Diagnostic challenges in minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: A report of two cases and review of the literature.

A 45-year-old, multiparous woman (gravida 3, para 1, G3P1) presented with a 5-year history of large amounts of vaginal discharge. The ThinPrep cytology test revealed moderate inflammation. Several transvaginal ultrasonography scans revealed an edematous cervix and multiple cysts with a honeycomb appearance ( Fig. 2B ). The inner cervical wall was not smooth and the tumor marker levels were within the normal range. Following cervical conization for the cervical cysts, the biopsies revealed chronic cervical inflammation with the presence of retention cysts and squamous metaplasia in the fundic portion of the cervix. Subsequently, the patient underwent laparoscopic cystectomy and biopsy, hysteroscopy, fractional curettage and cervical biopsy. The histopathological examination revealed chronic inflammation of the cervical mucosa. However, the vaginal discharge did not subside. The patient then underwent a pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, which revealed multiple cervical cysts and hydrops in the pelvic cavity. Medically the patient was in good condition and her history only revealed an appendectomy performed in 1983. Following admission to our department, the gynecologic examination showed large amounts of vaginal discharge and cervical hypertrophy, with no other abnormal findings. The patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and the fast-frozen cervical biopsy revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma; thus, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy was also performed. Grossly, the cervix was thickened and hard with multiple retention cysts, with no other abnormal macroscopic findings ( Fig. 1C ). The microscopic examination revealed cervical mucilaginous glands that were irregular in size and shape with increased apophysis, part of the glands were surrounded by a loose edematous or desmoplastic stromal response, the glands typically exhibited deep invasion of the cervical wall and were adjacent to the cervical adventitia. The glandular epithelial cells exhibited foci of heteromorphism. The parametrium and the pelvic lymph nodes showed no evidence of malignancy. The tumor was staged as Ib2 MDA according to the FIGO classification. Subsequently, cervical and pelvic radiotherapy was performed. At the last follow-up the patient was disease-free. A 41-year-old, multiparous woman (G6P1) underwent myomectomy for a cervical hysteromyoma in 2011 and pathological examination of the hysteromyoma revealed an MDA. The patient was medically fit and in good overall condition. Her medical history revealed myomectomy and oophoritic cystectomy (10 years ago). The gynecologic examination showed cervical moderate inflammation, with no other abnormal findings. The patient subsequently underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The gross uterine appearance was normal, apart from an enlarged corpus. The microscopic examination revealed cervical chronic inflammation with retention cysts and squamous metaplasia, adenomyosis and chronic salpingitis. The pelvic lymph nodes exhibited reactive hyperplasia, with no other abnormalities. The tumor was stage Ib and there were no high risk factors for the patient; therefore, adjunctive therapy was not administered. At the last follow-up the patient exhibited no evidence of tumor recurrence.

To gain more insight into MDA, we performed a review of the literature, during which 60 cases were identified ( Table I ). In almost half of these cases, vaginal bleeding and discharge was the predominant symptom and pathological examination was used to confirm the diagnosis. Surgical resection was the first choice for the treatment of MDA. The origin of MDA remains unclear. Previous studies revealed that the tumor is likely unrelated to human papillomavirus infection, which distinguishes it from common cervical cancers ( 14 ). Certain studies demonstrated a close association between MDA and gastric metaplasia. McGowan et al ( 15 ), suggested that the existence of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome or ovarian tumors may contribute to the progress of MDA, although no definitive conclusion on this association was established in our cases. The symptoms and signs of MDA are not different from those of common cervical adenocarcinoma. In our first case, the patient presented with profuse watery discharge and enlarged cervix with retention cysts. The cytological examination, punch biopsy and cervical conization failed to confirm a diagnosis of MDA. Therefore, in patients with cervical hypertrophy presenting with vaginal discharge or irregular bleeding, MDA should be considered following the elimination of other possible causes (such as carcinoma tubae)and appropriate investigations should be conducted, leading to a definitive diagnosis. The diagnosis of MDA is based on histopathology. Previous studies demonstrated that the cytological examination of the cervix as a diagnostic method for MDA is not sufficient. However, biopsy of the cervix and the cervical canal (depth >5 mm) and cervical conization contribute to the definitive diagnosis of MDA ( 16 ). Diagnosis using imaging techniques, such as MRI and ultrasonography, is often difficult due to the benign appearance of this tumor; however, they play an important role in evaluating the dissemination of MDA ( 17 ). T2-weighted MRI, in particular, shows the characteristics of MDA in detail and exhibits a reliable correlation with histological findings ( 18 ). In our first case, the T2-weighted MRI revealed a multicystic lesion and fluid accumulation in the endometrial cavity ( Fig. 3B ). MDA exhibits a diffusely infiltrative growth pattern and its differentiation from normal cervical glands histologically is challenging ( 19 ). However, MDA is histologically characterised by the haphazardous arrangement of endocervical glands and their deep penetration into the cervical wall, with only minor cytological atypia. Immunohistochemistry usually serves as an auxiliary examination of morphology to distinguish MDA from other cervical diseases. Previous studies revealed that carcinoembryonic antigen, Ki67, alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining and p53 may play important roles in the disease aetiology ( 20 ). Currently, surgery remains the optimal treatment choice for MDA. The modus operandi for the patients without a definitive diagnosis should be the same as that for ordinary adenocarcinoma. However, postoperative adjunctive therapy may be required for patients with MDA, as the disease is usually diagnosed at a later stage. From the prognostic point of view, a firm conclusion cannot be reached, due to the limited number of reported MDA cases and the limited clinical follow-up. In our two cases, opportune diagnosis allowed application of the appropriate treatment, similar to an ordinary well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Close follow-up of our two cases was planned in order to obtain more information about the disease and the efficacy of the available therapeutic methods. In conclusion, early diagnosis followed by appropriate ancillary evaluation and treatment have been a challenge for gynecologists. Close follow-up of established cases is essential in gaining more information regarding the disease and the efficacy of the available therapeutic methods.

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix (MDA), otherwise known as adenoma malignum, is a rare variant of cervical adenocarcinoma, which represents a diagnostic challenge in the field of gynecologic oncology. It is a rare neoplasm with an incidence of 1–3% and was first designated as ‘malignant adenoma of the cervix’ by Gusserow ( 1 ). However, Silverberg and Hurt ( 2 ) proposed the term ‘minimal deviation adenocarcinoma’ for this tumor due to its deceptively benign microscopic appearance. Since that time, only a few cases of MDA have been reported in the English literature. In this study, we present two cases of MDA, in order to demonstrate the characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that distinguish it from ordinary endometrioid adenocarcinoma.