Abstract
Background : We succeeded in detecting recurrence of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma with sarcomatous change by immunocytochemistry (ICC) of liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens using the cell transfer technique. We report this case with the cytologic findings.
Case : A female patient in her 60 s who was diagnosed as having adenosquamous carcinoma (stage ⅡB, pT2bN0M0) with sarcomatous change by histopathological examination of her hysterectomy specimen. LBC screening of the vaginal stump performed 22 months after the hysterectomy revealed the presence of sarcomatous cells, including spindle-shaped and polygonal cells. Although neither dyskeratotic cells nor obvious adenocarcinomatous features were observed, some multinucleated giant cells were identified. We performed ICC of the LBC specimens using the cell transfer technique and the sarcomatous component showed positive results of staining for cytokeratin (8/18) and p16/ki-67 dual staining. Based on these findings, it was judged that the patient had recurrence of cervical cancer. Consistent with this judgment, a biopsy of the vaginal stump revealed proliferative sarcomatous spindle-shaped cells, confirming the diagnosis of recurrence of cervical cancer.
Conclusions : We succeeded in detecting recurrence of cancer in a patient with non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatous change, by ICC of surplus LBC samples using the cell transfer technique. The LBC was also useful for vaginal stump smear testing.
