Histopathologic classification of cervical carcinomas and recognition of mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas

Recently, cervical mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas have been reported to be more common in younger women than in older women, leading some to conclude that any histologic classification of cervical carcinoma should include a specific category of this tumor type. One hundred and ninety-six invasive cervical carcinomas were classified using two histologic classification systems--the World Health Organization (WHO) and a system that recognized mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas (Fox). Analyses were performed to determine whether there was an association between age and glandular tumor types in either system. In the WHO System, 72% were classified as squamous carcinoma, 22% adenocarcinoma, and 6% adenosquamous. In the Fox System, 54% were squamous carcinoma, 22% adenocarcinoma, 4% adenosquamous, and 20% squamous carcinoma with mucin secretion. Specimen type did not significantly affect the classification of a carcinoma. No association was established between age and a diagnosis of adeno- and adenosquamous carcinomas in the WHO System, or age and adeno-, adenosquamous, and mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas in the Fox System. We conclude that use of the WHO Classification System does not obscure significant epidemiologic trends that are evident in a classification system that identifies mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas.