Copious vaginal discharge finally diagnosed as cervical adenocarcinoma: A case report

Copious vaginal discharge is a frequent manifestation of reproductive tract infections. However, when little effect can obtain treated as vaginitis, cervical disease should be highly suspected.

A 41-year-old woman had suffering from abnormally increased vaginal discharge without any other signs of discomfort for the past 4 years. A lot of medical examinations and treatment of vaginosis were administered, resulting in unclear diagnosis and little effect.

Cervical adenocarcinoma.

Gynecological examination, vaginal microbiome culture, and primary cervical cancer screening were negative, and a positron emission tomography revealed an increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism in the local cervix. After a thorough description, the patient demanded a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Histopathological evaluation confirmed adenocarcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix.

The correct diagnosis of symptomatic patients with increased vaginal discharge is challenging. Human papillomavirus-negative patients presenting profuse watery vaginal discharge with an abnormal signal of cervix lesion on positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be alert to cervical adenocarcinoma. Deep-seated cervical biopsy, conization, or even hysterectomy is conducive to early diagnosis, treatment and improvement of prognosis.