Clinical and MRI Characteristics of Uterine Cervical Adenocarcinoma: Its Variants and Mimics

Prognostic Differences and Survival Predictive Models for Mucinous Versus Usual-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

BACKGROUND

There is significant histological heterogeneity between the endocervical adenocarcinoma (EA) subtypes. Usual-type carcinoma (adenocarcinoma) and mucinous carcinoma (mucinous adenocarcinoma, MA) are the most common types of EA.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical variables were collected from the SEER database for selected patients between 2004 and 2021. The effect of confounding variables was reduced by propensity score matching (PSM). Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models. A risk prediction model nomogram for MA was developed and validated.

RESULTS

The median age for MA patients was 46 years compared to 45 years for adenocarcinoma (p = 0.021). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for MA were 88.2%, 74.5%, and 68.4%, respectively, significantly lower than those for adenocarcinoma (89.0%, 79.0%, and 74.9%, p < 0.0001). Cancer-specific survival (CSS) showed a similar trend (p < 0.0001). Seven variables, including age, primary site, T, N, combined stage, surgery, and chemotherapy, were selected to create the nomograms for predicting OS, while age, primary site, tumor size, T, N, combined stage, and surgery were selected for CSS. The validations of all predictive models were satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed MA's poorer prognosis compared to adenocarcinoma using the SEER database. It developed predictive models for OS and CSS of MA, offering a more accurate prognosis assessment tool for clinical practice.

Prognostic value of HER2 expression in cervical adenocarcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an important therapeutic target in various types of cancer, although the prognostic value and therapeutic potential of HER2 in cervical adenocarcinoma are still underexplored. The present study aimed to examine the association between HER2 expression levels and prognosis in cervical adenocarcinoma, offering new insights into targeted therapies for HER2-expressing cervical adenocarcinoma. A total of 179 patients with cervical cancer who received surgery were included, and HER2 status in surgical specimens of the included patients were assessed using two classification methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) alone and traditional combined IHC/fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). IHC alone was used to categorize patients into the HER2 zero expression (IHC 0) and HER2 expression (IHC 1+, 2+ and 3+) groups, while traditional combined IHC/FISH classified the HER2 expression as negative (IHC 0 and 1+ or IHC 2+/FISH-) or positive (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/FISH+). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were used to assess the patients' survival prognosis. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independent prognostic factors. The HER2 expression rate was 44.1% (79/179) according to IHC alone, while 5.0% (9/179) were classified as HER2-positive according to the traditional method. HER2 expression was significantly associated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages, higher rates of lymph node metastasis, vascular or perineural invasion, elevated cancer antigen 125 levels and increased recurrence rate (P<0.05). Moreover, HER2 expression was significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) time [51.02±2.75 vs. 56.01±2.22 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.559; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.313-0.998; P=0.049]. Additionally, programmed death-ligand 1 expression levels were significantly higher in HER2-expressing patients who died (P=0.039). When HER2 status was assessed using the traditional combined IHC/FISH method, HER2 positivity was significantly associated with poorer PFS time (36.44±7.85 vs. 55.17±1.78 months; HR, 0.125; 95% CI, 0.03033-0.5156; P=0.004). In conclusion, classification of HER2 status in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma using IHC alone may provide a promising method for predicting patient outcomes and optimizing therapeutic strategies to improve treatment efficacy.

Investigating the impact of persistent HPV infection on recurrence of lesions post-surgery for early-stage cervical cancer and related influencing factors

Objective

To explore the influencing factors of recurrence after surgical treatment for early-stage cervical cancer (stages IA1-IIA1) and to investigate the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and postoperative recurrence of lesions.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 242 patients who underwent surgical treatment for early-stage cervical cancer (FIGO stages IA1-IIA1) at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University between 2015 and 2022. Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship between persistent postoperative HPV infection and lesion vaginal local recurrence while identifying the associated risk factors for persistent HPV infection following surgery.

Results

Within 12 months postoperatively, the HPV clearance rate was 88.11%. HPV infection persisted beyond 12 months in 19 patients (7.9%), with 3 cases demonstrating the same HPV genotypes (types 52, 58) as those identified preoperatively. Multivariate analysis identified persistent postoperative HPV infection (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.14 to 5, p=0.001*) as an independent risk factor for recurrence. Additionally, smoking (OR 7.49, 95% CI 1.19 to 47.13, p=0.032), abnormal vaginal microbiota (OR 0.663, 95% CI 0.403 to 1.088, p=0.001*), and the type of surgical procedure (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.91, p=0.033) were significantly associated with a higher rate of persistent HPV infection.

Conclusion

Persistent HPV infection after surgery is an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer. Surgical approach, abnormal vaginal microbiota, and smoking are associated factors for persistent HPV infection after surgery.

Application and clinical efficacy of comprehensive nursing intervention in pelvic floor and bladder function recovery post-cervical cancer surgery

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of comprehensive nursing intervention in pelvic floor and bladder function recovery post-cervical cancer surgery.

Method

This was a retrospective study. A total of 120 patients with cervical cancer undergoing radical surgery at Tangshan People's Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were randomly divided into two groups (n=60 cases each group). The control group received routine nursing intervention, while the study group was provided with comprehensive nursing intervention. Comparative analysis was conducted on clinical indicators, postoperative complications, bladder and pelvic floor function recovery, and patient satisfaction before and after intervention in both groups.

Result

In the study group, ambulation time, gastrointestinal function recovery, duration of postoperative drainage tube placement, oral diet resumption time, duration of postoperative vaginal bleeding, and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter than in the control group (all p< 0.05). Bladder function recovery in the study group was superior to that in the control group (p< 0.05). The study group showed lower scores for anorectal disorders, urogenital disorders, and pelvic organ prolapse than the control group (p< 0.05, respectively). Patient satisfaction was 100% in the study group and 85% in the control group, suggesting a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p< 0.05).

Conclusion

Comprehensive nursing intervention deserve to be promoted as it can accelerate postoperative clinical recovery, reduce the incidence of surgical complications, improve pelvic floor and bladder function post-cervical cancer surgery, and enhance patient satisfaction with care.

Comparison of MRI features among squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma, usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma of cervix

OBJECTIVE

To compare and explore the characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (AC) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC), usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (UEA) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) of cervix.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 728 cervical cancers (254 cases of AC, 252 cases of ASC, and 222 cases of SCC) confirmed by histopathology were retrospectively reviewed. Among AC, 119 UEA and 47 GAC were included. Clinical baseline data and tumor morphological features on MRI (including tumor location, shape, diameter and volume, margin, growth pattern, presence of fluid component or cyst, heterogenous and peritumoral enhancement) of all cases were collected and analyzed. The signal intensity (SI) of tumor and gluteus maximus muscle were measured and their ratios (SIR) were calculated based on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and contrast-enhanced T1WI at arterial and delay phases (A/DCE-T1WI). These clinical and MRI features were compared between SCC, AC and ASC, UEA and GAC, and the specific ones of each subtype were identified.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in SCC-Ag, CA-199, CEA, ADC value, SIR-DWI, presence of intratumor cyst and peritumoral enhancement between AC and ASC; in patient age, menopausal status, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, SCC-Ag, CA-125, CA-199, CEA, tumor shape, growth pattern, margin, presence of intratumor fluid component and cyst, tumor diameter and volume, ADC value, SIR-T1WI, SIR-T2WI, and SIR-DWI between SCC and AC, as well as SCC and ASC. Also, there was a significant difference in deep stromal invasion (DSI), peritumoral and heterogenous enhancement between SCC and AC, and in SIR-ACE-T1WI between SCC and ASC. There was a significant difference in reproductive history, menopausal status, FIGO stage, CA-199, DSI, lymph node metastasis (LNM), parametrial invasion (PMI), tumor location, shape, margin, growth pattern, presence of fluid component and cyst, tumor diameter and volume, SIR-T1WI, SIR-DWI, and heterogenous enhancement between GAC and UEA.

CONCLUSION

The clinical and MRI features with significant differences among SCC, AC and ASC, and between UEA and GAC, can help to identify each subtype of cervical cancer.

Benign Endocervical Polyp with Coexisting Nabothian Cysts and Endocervical Hyperplasia Mimicking Malignancy: A Case Report

This report presents a unique case of an endocervical polyp-mimicking malignancy on pelvic MRI in a 45-year-old female. The MRI depicted a multilocular cystic lesion with an enhancing solid component, raising suspicion for malignancy. However, histopathological examination definitively revealed a benign endocervical polyp. This case highlights the limitations of diagnosing cervical lesions solely on MRI features, emphasizing the potential for benign conditions to mimic malignancy.

Unusual spread of cervical adenocarcinoma to the endometrium and left fallopian tube: a case report and literature review

Introduction

The incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ are gradually increasing especially in younger women. However, unusual spread of cervical adenocarcinoma has rarely been reported.

Case presentation

The authors report a case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with postmenopausal bleeding. She was misdiagnosed to have endometrial adenocarcinoma on the lower uterine segment depending on curettage specimen. After hysterectomy, it was revealed depending on morphological features in histology accompanied with immunohistochemistry that the patient had cervical adenocarcinoma with endometrial and left fallopian tube extension.

Discussion

Distinguishing endocervical adenocarcinoma from endometroid adenocarcinoma poses many challenges especially when evaluating endometrial curettage specimens. Histological diagnosis based on morphological features combined with a panel of immunohistochemistry stains is crucial for accurate diagnosis and identifying the primary origin of the tumor.

Conclusion

Accurate distinction between cervical adenocarcinoma versus endometrial adenocarcinoma is important because of its significant effects on choosing the appropriate treatment option.

The Utility and Feasibility of Laparoscopic Surgery in Patients Diagnosed With Cervical Cystic Lesions

INTRODUCTION

This observation study aimed to differentiate between lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH) and gastric-type mucinous carcinoma (GAS) while evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the preoperative diagnosis of cervical cystic lesions.

METHOD AND MATERIAL

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic process and laparoscopic surgical management of cervical cystic lesions suspected to be LEGH or GAS. Preoperatively and postoperatively, MRI, cytology, histology, tumor marker analysis, and surgical outcomes (blood loss during surgery, operative time) were assessed. Six individuals were selected based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results indicating a preoperative suspicion of LEGH or GAS. These patients underwent laparoscopic surgical treatment without indications of malignancy based on preoperative histology or cytology.

RESULTS

Initially, all individuals were suspected to have LEGH based on MRI findings. Postoperatively, two patients were diagnosed with LEGH, two with adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA), and two showed no notable findings on pathology (one diagnosed endometrioid carcinoma in endometrial tissue). Patients with malignancies exhibited longer surgical times and higher intraoperative blood loss. Preoperatively, no significant variation was observed in maximal lesion diameter between adenocarcinoma and LEGH. However, lesion diameter increased significantly over time in patients with GAS.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery demonstrated feasibility and provided crucial diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes, with no postoperative recurrence observed in cases of malignancy, despite the challenges associated with preoperative differentiation. These findings underscore the potential of laparoscopic surgery in enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy for cervical cystic lesions, offering promise for improved patient outcomes and management strategies in clinical practice.

A Case Study of Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAS) is a rare subtype of mucinous adenocarcinoma characterized by gastric differentiation and is unrelated to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This report discusses a 40-year-old female who presented with abdominal distension accompanied by increased abdominal circumference. CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed a large 21.0*12.7*26.0 cm mass later diagnosed as GAS combined with squamous cell carcinoma on surgical pathology. Immunohistological staining of GAS was positive for CK7, MUC6, PAX-8 CEA, and P53 (wild type) and negative for CDX2, CK20, ER, PR, P16, and WT1. The proliferative index (Ki-67) was 20%. Immunohistochemical staining of squamous cell carcinoma was positive for P16 and P53 (wild type), and the proliferative index (Ki-67) was 90%. However, the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of GAS have not been fully elucidated. As more cases are identified and reported, additional targeted therapies can be developed and tested in these patients.

Autoimmune encephalitis and paraneoplastic encephalitis: difficulties in diagnosis and management in the ICU

Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) represents a category of relatively newly described neurological disorders associated with an increasing prevalence, a significant impact on the healthcare system, and a high rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. This category of diseases often requires prompt treatment, even before a definitive diagnosis is established. In the ICU, patients present with nonspecific signs and symptoms for AIE, which pose challenges in both management and diagnosis. Patients frequently exhibit dysautonomia, severe physical and psychic agitation, as well as tremors and dyskinesia, all of which complicate the diagnosis. They are prone to developing infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, and issues related to difficult venous access and pressure ulcers. Early initiation of immunosuppressive treatment is necessary to improve patients' outcome. Through this article, we aimed to summarize current knowledge in terms of the difficulties in diagnosing and management of this pathology in the ICU, as well as the implications for the healthcare system in terms of human and financial resources.

Uterine Cervical Angioleiomyoma Mimicking Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Angioleiomyoma, a rare variant of leiomyoma, is a benign tumor of mesenchymal origin. Angioleiomyomas of the female urogenital tract are extremely rare, with only six cases of uterine cervical angioleiomyoma previously reported in the literature. In this case study, we report on a 49-year-old female patient who presented with menorrhagia whose initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings suggested cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, following the hysterectomy, histological examination confirmed the lesion to be angioleiomyoma. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previously reported cases of angioleiomyomas presenting with MRI findings that are suggestive of uterine SCC. Recognizing that angioleiomyomas can mimic uterine malignancies on MRI may prove beneficial for future diagnostic and treatment strategies.

T1 mapping and extracellular volume fraction measurement to evaluate the poor-prognosis factors in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical feasibility of T₁ mapping and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) measurement in assessing prognostic factors in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 117 CSCC patients and 59 healthy volunteers underwent T₁ mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on a 3 T system. Native T₁ , contrast-enhanced T₁ , ECV, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated and compared based on surgico-pathologically verified deep stromal infiltration, parametrial invasion (PMI), lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), lymph node metastasis, stage, histologic grade, and the Ki-67 labeling index (LI).

RESULTS

Native T₁ , contrast-enhanced T₁ , ECV, and ADC values were significantly different between CSCC and the normal cervix (all p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in any parameters of CSCC when the tumors were grouped by stromal infiltration or lymph node status, respectively (all p > 0.05). In subgroups of the tumor stage and PMI, native T₁ was significantly higher for advanced-stage (p = 0.032) and PMI-positive CSCC (p = 0.001). In subgroups of the grade and Ki-67 LI, contrast-enhanced T₁ was significantly higher for high-grade (p = 0.012) and Ki-67 LI ≥ 50% tumors (p = 0.027). ECV was significantly higher in LVSI-positive CSCC than in LVSI-negative CSCC (p < 0.001). ADC values showed a significant difference for the grade (p < 0.001) but none for the other subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Both T₁ mapping and DWI could stratify the CSCC histologic grade. In addition, T₁ mapping and ECV measurement might provide more quantitative metrics for noninvasively predicting poor prognostic factors and aiding in preoperative risk assessment in CSCC patients.

MRI characteristics for predicting histological subtypes in patients with uterine cervical adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of uterine cervical adenocarcinoma for predicting different histological subtypes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed MRI findings of 76 consecutive patients with histopathologically-confirmed uterine cervical adenocarcinoma undergoing preoperative MRI examination. An experienced pathologist classified the histological subtypes based on World Health Organization's 2020 classification and into human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated adenocarcinomas (HPVAs, n = 54) (usual type and variants) and HPV-independent adenocarcinomas (HPVIs, n = 22) (gastric type adenocarcinoma (GAS), clear cell type, and other types). Different MRI variables were compared quantitatively and qualitatively between HPVA and HPVI and between GAS and non-GAS tumor types.

RESULTS

The maximum tumor diameter was significantly greater in HPVIs than HPVAs (41.9 ± 18.6 vs 32.7 ± 15.6 mm; p < 0.05). Heterogeneous enhancement on fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images was more frequently seen in HPVIs than HPVAs (62 % vs 15 %; p < 0.01) and in GASs than non-GASs (78 % vs 16 %; p < 0.01). Also, infiltrative growth pattern (58 % vs 20 %; p < 0.05) and intratumoral cyst formation (83 % vs 47 %) (p < 0.05) were more frequent in GASs than non-GASs.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with HPVAs, HPVIs tend to have a larger tumor size with heterogeneous enhancement, of which GASs frequently show infiltrative growth patterns with intratumoral cyst formation and heterogeneous enhancement.

Invisible cervical cancers on MRI: Can the type of histology (SCC versus non-SCC) influence surgical planning?

Background

Invisible cervical cancers on MRI can indicate less invasive surgery. Cervical cancers consist of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-SCC, each with different long-term outcomes. It is still unclear if surgical planning should be changed according to the histologic type of cervical cancer when it is not visible on MRI.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to determine if surgical planning for cervical cancer that is not visible on MRI is influenced by the histologic type.

Materials and methods

Between January 2007 and December 2016, 155 women had Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage 1B1 cervical cancer that was not visible on preoperative MRI. They underwent radical hysterectomies and pelvic lymph node dissections. Among them, 88 and 67 were histologically diagnosed with SCC and non-SCC, respectively. The size of the residual tumor, depth of stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, vaginal invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis were compared between these patients using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-squared test, or Fisher's exact test. The recurrence-free and overall 10-year survival rates were compared between the groups by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

The mean sizes of residual tumors were 8.4 ± 10.4 mm in the SCC group and 12.5 ± 11.9 mm in the non-SCC group (p = 0.024). The mean depth of stromal invasion in the SCC group was 12.4 ± 21.2% (0%-100%), whereas that in the non-SCC group was 22.4 ± 24.4 (0%-93%) (p = 0.016). However, there was no difference in parametrial or vaginal invasion, lymphovascular invasion, or lymph node metastasis (p = 0.504-1.000). The recurrence-free and overall 10-year survival rates were 98.9% (87/88) and 95.5% (64/67) (p = 0.246), and 96.6% (85/88) and 95.5% (64/67) (p = 0.872), respectively.

Conclusions

The non-SCC group tends to have larger residual tumors and a greater depth of stromal invasion than the SCC group, even though neither is visible on MRI. Therefore, meticulous care is necessary for performing parametrectomy in patients with non-SCC cervical cancer.

Diagnosis of Early Cervical Cancer with a Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Image under the Artificial Intelligence Algorithm

This research was conducted to explore the value of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on the alternating direction algorithm in the diagnosis of early cervical cancer. 64 patients diagnosed with early cervical cancer clinicopathologically were included, and according to the examination methods, they were divided into A group with conventional multimodal MRI examination and B group with the multimodal MRI examination under the alternating direction algorithm. The diagnostic results of two types of multimodal MRI for early cervical cancer staging were compared with the results of clinicopathological examination to judge the application value in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. The results showed that in the 6 randomly selected samples of early cervical cancer patients, the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity image measurement (SSIM) of multimodal MRI images under the alternating direction algorithm were significantly higher than those of conventional multimodal MRI images and the image reconstruction was clearer under this algorithm. By comparing MRI multimodal staging, statistical analysis showed that the staging accuracy of B group was 75%, while that of A group was only 59.38%. For the results of postoperative medical examinations, the examination consistency of B group was better than that of A group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of B group was larger than that of A group; thus, sensitivity was improved and misdiagnosis was reduced significantly. Multimodal MRI under the alternating direction algorithm was superior to conventional multimodal MRI examination in the diagnosis of early cervical cancer, as the lesions were displayed more clearly, which was conducive to the detection rate of small lesions and the staging accuracy. Therefore, it could be used as an ideal MRI method for the assistant diagnosis of cervical cancer staging.

Case Report: Giant Pelvic Cystic Appearance—An Unusual Feature of Uterine Cervical Adenocarcinoma

Cervical adenocarcinoma can present as a solid, mixed solid, cystic, or multiple cystic cervical mass in the endocervical canal. In this report, we present an extremely rare case of cervical adenocarcinoma with giant cystic lesions. A 37-year-old Chinese woman with a regular menstrual cycle presented to her local doctor complaining of mild abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasonography suggested an ovarian cyst, whose mean diameter increased from 3 to 8 cm in 3 months. Thereafter, she was referred to our hospital. She had no abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a 95 × 80 mm cyst below the back of the uterus. Computed tomography revealed a 9.8 × 8.5 cm multilocular cyst between the cervix and right ovary. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-E6 and -E7 mRNA tests revealed HPV-16 positivity. The thin-layer, liquid-based cytological test of the cervix showed negative results. No tumor lesions were observed on the cervical biopsy histopathology. The lesion was misdiagnosed as an ovarian cyst prior to the surgery. Intraoperatively, a cyst of the size of a child's head was observed extending from the low posterior wall of the uterus to the posterior lip of the cervix, and the cervical cysts were resected. Histological examination revealed cervical adenocarcinoma. Subsequently, she underwent extensive hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The final diagnosis was stage IB3 cervical adenocarcinoma. After 21 months of follow-up, no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence has been found.

Magnetic Fields and Cancer: Epidemiology, Cellular Biology, and Theranostics

Humans are exposed to a complex mix of man-made electric and magnetic fields (MFs) at many different frequencies, at home and at work. Epidemiological studies indicate that there is a positive relationship between residential/domestic and occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and some types of cancer, although some other studies indicate no relationship. In this review, after an introduction on the MF definition and a description of natural/anthropogenic sources, the epidemiology of residential/domestic and occupational exposure to MFs and cancer is reviewed, with reference to leukemia, brain, and breast cancer. The in vivo and in vitro effects of MFs on cancer are reviewed considering both human and animal cells, with particular reference to the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). MF application on cancer diagnostic and therapy (theranostic) are also reviewed by describing the use of different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications for the detection of several cancers. Finally, the use of magnetic nanoparticles is described in terms of treatment of cancer by nanomedical applications for the precise delivery of anticancer drugs, nanosurgery by magnetomechanic methods, and selective killing of cancer cells by magnetic hyperthermia. The supplementary tables provide quantitative data and methodologies in epidemiological and cell biology studies. Although scientists do not generally agree that there is a cause-effect relationship between exposure to MF and cancer, MFs might not be the direct cause of cancer but may contribute to produce ROS and generate oxidative stress, which could trigger or enhance the expression of oncogenes.

Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma with mucoepithelial metaplasia combined with a serous borderline tumor: A case report

RATIONALE

Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (GAS) is a rare type of cervical adenocarcinoma that is a mucinous adenocarcinoma with a variety of gastral patterns. To date, there are no systematic clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines.

PATIENT CONCERNS

In our case, a 49-year-old woman underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to a pelvic mass, and cervical lesions were unexpectedly found. After receiving relevant surgical treatment, the pathological results showed the particularity of the tumor type-cervical gastric adenocarcinoma with a borderline serous tumor of both appendages and the right ovary.

DIAGNOSES

Postoperative routine pathological examination showed mucoepithelial metaplasia accompanied by a borderline serous tumor.

INTERVENTIONS

After gynecological/urinary ultrasound, blood tests, MRI, cervical biopsy, and uterine curettage, "robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingectomy-ovariectomy + pelvic lymph node dissection + pelvic adhesiolysis" were performed. After the surgery, the patient was treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.

OUTCOMES

After the operation, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the patient had no tumor recurrence and is still in good condition.

LESSONS

The diagnosis of GAS is relatively difficult, its clinical manifestations lack specificity, and the pathogenesis has nothing to do with human papillomavirus infection. The patient was misdiagnosed with vaginitis at a local hospital. However, we found that MRI and pathological examination were helpful for the diagnosis of the disease. Although there are no relevant guidelines to explain the treatment principles of GAS, we believe that early surgery is conducive to the prognosis of the disease because GAS has a certain tolerance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

MRI-based radiomics analysis to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of cervical carcinoma: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Preoperative prediction of clinical pathological indicators of cervical cancer (CC) is of great significance to the formulation of personalized treatment plans for CC.

PURPOSE

To investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics analysis for the evaluation of pathological types, tumor grade, FIGO stage, and lymph node metastasis (LNM) of CC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 235 patients with CC from three institutes were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent T2/SPAIR and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1WI) imaging scans before radical hysterectomy by pelvic lymph node dissection surgery. Radiomics features extracted from T2/SPAIR and CE-T1WI imaging were selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methods for further radiomics signature calculation. These radiomic features were used to construct regression and decision tree models to evaluate the performance of radiomic features in distinguishing clinicopathological indicators.

RESULTS

The area under the curve (AUC) of T2/SPAIR and CE-T1WI imaging were 0.777 and 0.750, respectively, for differentiating between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. From the two sequences, the AUC of the verification group that distinguished low FIGO stage from high FIGO stage was 0.716 and 0.676, respectively. The AUC for moderately well and poorly differentiated tumors were 0.729 on T2/SPAIR and 0.749 on CE-T1WI imaging. The AUC of the verification groups for LNM was 0.730 and 0.618 on T2/SPAIR and CE-T1WI imaging, respectively.

CONCLUSION

MRI radiomics features can be used as a non-invasive method to evaluate the clinicopathological indexes of CC and provide an important auxiliary examination method for patients to determine individualized treatment plans before operation.

Analysis of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical tumors

OBJECTIVE

To explore and analyze the value of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical tumors.

METHODS

A total of 51 patients with cervical tumor who were treated in our hospital from April 2017 to October 2019 were recruited as the research subjects. All patients underwent conventional MRI plain scan and DCE-MRI examination. With histopathological results as the gold standard, the participants were classified into a malignant tumor group (n = 36) and a benign tumor group (n = 15) on the basis of the nature of the cervical tumor. The difference of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI between the two groups was compared, and the specificity, sensitivity, negative and positive predictive values of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters in differentiating benign from malignant cervical tumors were analyzed to evaluate the value of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical tumors.

RESULTS

The quantitative parameters Kep, Ktrans and Ve of DCE-MRI in the malignant-tumor-group were critically higher than that in the benign tumor group (P<0.05). When distinguishing between the benign and malignant cervical tumors, the specificity and sensitivity of kep, Ktrans and Ve were higher in the differential diagnosis of malignant cervical tumors than in the benign cervical tumors. The peak of the malignant tumor group was remarkably earlier than that of the benign tumor group, and SI60% of the malignant tumor group was dramatically higher than that of benign tumor group (P<0.05). In addition, compared with benign cervical tumors, the semi-quantitative parameters of DCE-MR TTP and SI60% were more sensitive to malignant cervical tumors.

CONCLUSION

The quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI have high value in differentiating benign and malignant cervical tumors. When adopting conventional MRI to diagnose oncologic cervical tumors, the differential diagnosis of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI has demonstrated a high clinical value by avoiding unnecessary radical surgeries.

Management of locally advanced mesonephric carcinoma of the cervix in the setting of Mullerian Duct anomaly spectrum and unilateral renal agenesis: A case report and review of the literature

Cervical mesonephric adenocarcinoma is a rare histologic cervical carcinoma variant arising from remnants of the mesonephric duct. Few clinical cases have been reported in the literature, and given the low rate of occurrence, the optimal management strategy is unknown. Most reported cases involve patients with either early stage (FIGO I) or metastatic disease. Herein, we report the only known case of locally advanced, node-positive cervical mesonephric carcinoma in a 55-year old woman with Mullerian duct anomaly of the uterus, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. To our knowledge, this would be the first case report with the concurrence of both rare entities. We review the treatment paradigm in this patient, and the literature, including radiotherapy and brachytherapy techniques.

The feasibility of a radial turbo-spin-echo T2 mapping for preoperative prediction of the histological grade and lymphovascular space invasion of cervical squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

The study aimed to analyze the feasibility of a radial turbo-spin-echo (TSE) T2 mapping to differentiate the histological grades and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) in comparison with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

METHODS

A total of 58 patients with CSCC and 40 healthy volunteers underwent T2 mapping and DWI before therapy. The T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated using different tumor characteristics. The differences, efficacies and correlations between parameters were determined.

RESULTS

The T2 and ADC values were significantly different between CSCC and normal cervical stroma (both p < 0.05). Poorly differentiated (G3) tumor showed lower T2 and ADC values than well differentiated (G1) and moderately differentiated (G2) tumor (all p < 0.05). The T2 values were significantly lower in LVSI-positive CSCC than LVSI-negative CSCC (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in ADC values for LVSI status (p = 0.561). The area under the ROC (AUC) for T2 and ADC values to distinguish G1/G2 and G3 tumor were 0.741 and 0.763, respectively. The AUC for T2 and ADC values to distinguish LVSI-positive and LVSI-negative CSCC were 0.877 and 0.537, respectively. The T2 and ADC values were negatively correlated with the tumor grades (r = -0.402 and r = -0.339, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Radial TSE T2 mapping is feasible for CSCC. Similar to ADC values, quantitative T2 values could serve as a noninvasive biomarker to predict histological grades preoperatively. Moreover, T2 values could determine the presence of LVSI better than ADC values.

An unusual presentation of usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma with lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia: A case report

Uterine cervical hematoma is rare. A 51-year-old woman underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for uterine tumor survey. A large hematoma with cystic and solid lesions was observed in the uterine cervix. Follow-up MRI after 5 days revealed that the hematoma had decreased in volume. Pathological examination after surgery suggested there was usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (UEA) in the lower cervix and lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH) in the upper cervix, along with the cervical hematoma. The findings of this case suggest that the uterine cervical hematoma was secondary to either UEA or LEGH.

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Uterine cervical hematoma is rare.

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In the present case, the hematoma was considered to be caused by either the usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma or lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia.

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The exact mechanism of the hematoma formation was unclear.

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Usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma and lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia can be considered as differential diagnosis in cases of cervical hematoma.

Analysis of Clinicopathological Features of Cervical Mucinous Adenocarcinoma with a Solitary Ovarian Metastatic Mass as the First Manifestation

Purpose

To avoid misdiagnosis, clinicopathological features were analyzed in cases of cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma with solitary ovarian metastatic masses.

Patients and Methods

Three cases misdiagnosed as primary ovarian adenocarcinoma before surgery were filtered from the database of the Cancer Hospital/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1998 to December 2016. The clinical data were thoroughly collected and compared, and both frozen and paraffin-embedded pathological sections were reviewed by two expert pathologists.

Results

None of the patients experienced cervical contact bleeding, and no typical cervical neoplasms were found. The cervical canals were slightly thickened in two patients, as detected by either palpation or imaging. The high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) test results were all negative, and the thin-prep cytologic test (TCT) screened only one case of atypical glandular epithelial cells. All cases were indicative of higher serum CA19-9 levels (79.49-6124 U/mL). The ovarian masses showed no regular laterality, while they were all cystic or solid-cystic. Their pathological sections indicated a benign appearance of the capsule tissue with well-differentiated mucinous glands infiltrating the ovarian cortex with focal necrosis.

Conclusion

Attention should be paid to cervical examinations before and during surgery for cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma with a metastatic ovarian mass as the first manifestation. Such patients may gain a better prognosis after active treatment.

A rare case of gastric-type mucinous endocervical adenocarcinoma in a 59-year-old woman

INTRODUCTION

Endocervical adenocarcinoma represents 20-25% of the histological types of cervical carcinoma. Gastric-type mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix is a rare type of cancer with aggressive behavior. This type of malignancy is not related to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).

CASE REPORT

We report a 59-year-old postmenopausal woman complaining of vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Histological analysis of punch biopsy and endocervical curettage revealed possible endocervical mucinous adenocarcinoma, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 10 × 8 cm sized cervical mass. According to oncologists, the tumor was inoperable, so the patient received 6 cycles of chemotherapeutic agents with carboplatin, paclitaxel and bevacizumab from December 2019 to March 2020. However, chemotherapy had very poor results in this patient, because the mass was increased to 24 cm in a new MRI performed after the end of chemotherapy. Finally, the patient underwent radical surgery. On histopathological examination, the surgical margin was all free from everywhere and the mass was confirmed as a gastric-type mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix with low differentiation.

CONCLUSION

It is very important to have an early diagnosis of gastric-type mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix, as this tumor is poorly symptomatic and very aggressive. When chemotherapy is not effective, radical surgery may be a solution for better survival.

Proteomic analysis of human cervical adenocarcinoma mucus to identify potential protein biomarkers

Background

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer, encompassing cervical squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and other epithelial tumors. There are many diagnostic methods to detect cervical cancers but no precision screening tool for cervical adenocarcinoma at present.

Material and methods

The cervical mucus from three normal cervices (Ctrl), three endocervical adenocarcinoma (EA), and three cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) was collected for proteomic analysis. The proteins were screened using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS). The biological function of the differently expressed proteins were predicted by Gene Ontology (GO).

Results

A total of 711 proteins were identified, including 237 differently expressed proteins identified in EA/Ctrl comparison, 256 differently expressed proteins identified in AIS/Ctrl comparison, and 242 differently expressed proteins identified in AIS/EA comparison (up-regulate ≥ 1.5 or down-regulate ≤ 0.67). Functional annotation was performed using GO analysis on 1,056 differently expressed proteins to identify those that may impact cervical cancer, such as heme protein myeloperoxidase, which is involved in the immune process, and APOA1, which is associated with lipid metabolism.

Conclusion

We used proteomic analysis to screen out differently expressed proteins from normal cervical mucus and cervical adenocarcinoma mucus samples. These differently expressed proteins may be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical adenocarcinoma but require additional study.