Small cell carcinoma of the cervix is a rare histological subtype of carcinoma of the cervix.
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Epidemiology
Small cell carcinoma is thought to account for ~0.5-6% of all uterine cervical cancers 3.
Pathology
It is a type of neuroendocrine tumor and is similar to pulmonary small cell carcinoma (contains neuroendocrine granules). Small cell carcinoma can consist of heterologous tumor cells because some cells are of epithelial origin and others are of neuroendocrine origin.
Papanicolaou's smears, a popular screening method for uterine cervix cancer, is not sensitive for the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Radiographic features
While there are no specific imaging features for this subtype at the time of writing, patients with small cell carcinoma of the cervical often show advanced disease on imaging (e.g. parametrial invasion and lymphadenopathy) at the time of their initial imaging assessment (even for small tumors 3).
Treatment and prognosis
It is an aggressive tumor with a propensity for early spread into the uterine body, rapid recurrence; it is associated with high mortality 2-3. Surgery is often not a treatment option ref.
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