A Case of Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma in the Uterine Cervix of 22 Years-Old Virgin.

Kim, Chul Jung; Park, Chang Soo; Lee, Jeong Won; Lee, Su Ho; Lee, Sun Joo; Kim, Byoung Gie; Lee, Je Ho; Bae, Duk Soo

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 47(7); 2004 > Article

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2004;47(7):1409-1414.
Published online July 1, 2004.

A Case of Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma in the Uterine Cervix of 22 Years-Old Virgin.

Chul Jung Kim, Chang Soo Park, Jeong Won Lee, Su Ho Lee, Sun Joo Lee, Byoung Gie Kim, Je Ho Lee, Duk Soo Bae

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Clear cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is rare malignancy that accounts for 4% to 9% of the adenocarcinoma of the cervix. It is thought to originate from Mullerian duct, not from mesonephric duct. The etiology and pathogenesis are yet unclear. But among the suspected etiologies, the prenatal diethyl stilbestrol (DES) exposure is well known to be linked to clear cell carcinoma of the vagina and cervix. This cancer occurs primarily during young age (17 to 23 years) in DES-exposure women, but occurs mainly after menopause in non DES exposure women. The biological behavior and prognosis of the cancer are poorer than those of squamous cell carcinomas and non-clear cell adenocarcinomas. Also DES associated clear cell carcinomas behave less aggressively than those that develop in the absence of a history of DES exposure. We experienced a case of clear cell carcinoma in the uterine cervix of 22 years-old virgin who was not related to DES. So, we presented the case with a brief review of related literature.

Key Words: Clear cell carcinoma, Cervical carcinoma, DES