[Morphology and histogenesis problems in cervical cancer]

Both most common and rare varieties of uterine cervix carcinoma were studied light and electron microscopically. It is shown that tumours histologically classified as squamous-cell carcinoma originate either from the squamous epithelium of the ectocervix or from the metaplastic epithelium. Characteristic ultrastructural features of these histogenetic variants of squamous-cell carcinoma are described. The authors' and literature data are presented indicating that the great histological variety of adenocarcinomas and glandular-squamous carcinomas is due to the pluripotential properties of proliferating stem cells capable of forming glandular, solid and squamous-cell structures. The source of clear-cell adenocarcinoma may be not only Gartner's duct but the mullerian epithelium as well. The classification of uterine cervix carcinomas reflecting their histogenesis is proposed.