[Morphological studies of intraepithelial carcinomas of the cervix uteri (author's transl)]

A morphological study at light and electron microscopy, of 61 cases of intraepithelial epithelioma allowed the authors to distinguish two types of carcinoma: undifferentiated intraepithelial epithelioma arising from the exo-endocervical junction, probably by proliferation of vestigial cells which derived from persistent sinusal remnants; differentiated intraepithelial epithelioma developing upon the mature exocervical epithelium modified by inflammatory processes. These two types of "in situ" epitheliomas have different evolution. The undifferentiated form, supported by an uninterrupted membrane consisting of imbricated reticulin fibres has a slow evolution. The differentiated form, often multifocal, supported by a basal membrane frequently disrupted, has a rapid evolution. These morphological studies allowed the authors to refuse the theory of metaplasia from subcylindrical reserve cells in the genesis of intraepithelial epitheliomas of the cervix.