Sonographic characteristics of squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

• OBJECTIVE: To describe the sonographic characteristic of squamous cell cancer (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) of the cervix using transvaginal ultrasound. METHODS: Women with early stage cervical cancer undergoing transvaginal ultrasound examination prior to surgery were prospectively included. The sonographic characteristics were assessed with regard to tumor morphology, vascularization, size, extension and location. Histological assessment of tumor subtype, size, growth pattern, extension, location was performed. Both sonographic and histological assessments were done according to a standardized protocol. RESULTS: Fifty-five women were recruited. Ten were excluded since no tumor was seen on ultrasound and 5 because radical surgery was aborted due to positive lymph nodes, detected by the sentinel node technique. Among the remaining 40 women 20 had AC and 20 SCC. At pathological examination 34 women had tumors confined to the cervix, 3 had parametrial and 3 vaginal invasion. Hypoechoic echogenicity was associated with SCC in 73% (11/15), while isoechoic echogenicity indicated AC in 68% (13/19) of the women (p=0.03). Mixed echogenicity (n=4) showed a non-significant relation to larger tumor volume (p=0.23). Hyperechoic echogenicity was found in 2 women, both with the less malignant villoglandular AC. Color Doppler signals were found in all AC and 90% (18/20) of the SCC, as compared to most normal cervical tissue with virtually no detectable vascularization. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the sonographic appearance of SCC and AC differs, a knowledge that can be of use in the clinical evaluation of cervical tumors. Copyright (c) 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

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