Cancerous tumours of the cervix
A cancerous tumour of the cervix can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. The tumour can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumours are also called malignant tumours.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma are the most common tumours of the cervix. These types of cervical cancer usually develop from precancerous changes in the cervix caused by an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Most precancerous changes in the cervix do not become cancer. When they do, it usually takes several years for cancer to develop.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This type of cancer starts in flat, scale-like cells called squamous cells. SCC develops most often in the squamo-columnar junction (also called the transformation zone).
SCC can be keratinizing or non-keratinizing. Keratin is a tough, fibrous protein. Keratinizing SCC means that the squamous cells grow into masses (nests) of cells that contain keratin. Non-keratinizing means that the squamous cells grow into nests of cells that do not contain keratin.
Rare types of SCC of the cervix include:
- verrucous carcinoma
- papillary SCC
- papillary transitional cell carcinoma
- warty carcinoma
- basaloid SCC
- lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Most of the other cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinoma starts in the glandular cells that line the inside of the cervix, called the endocervix. Mucinous adenocarcinoma is the most common type of adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is a type that looks similar to cancer that develops in the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer).
Rare types of adenocarcinomas include:
- papillary serous adenocarcinoma
- villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma
- mesonephric adenocarcinoma
- microcystic endocervical adenocarcinoma
Adenosquamous carcinoma
Less commonly, cervical cancers have features of both squamous cell carcinomas (SSCs) and adenocarcinomas. These are called adenosquamous carcinomas or mixed carcinomas. They have a mixture of both glandular and squamous cells. Adenosquamous carcinoma can affect people of any age.
Glassy cell carcinoma is a rare type of adenosquamous carcinoma that grows quickly and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body early.
Rare cervical tumours
The following cancerous tumours of the cervix are rare:
- clear cell carcinoma
- small cell carcinoma
- neuroendocrine carcinoma
- sarcoma
- lymphoma
- melanoma
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