What are the types of cervical cancer?

  • Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type
  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix
  • Invasive cervical cancer

How is cervical cancer classified?

Cervical cancer is classified into two types:

  1. Squamous cell carcinoma. It affects the thin flat cells in the base of the uterus. It is the most common form accounts for 80 to 90% of cervical cancers.
  2. Adenocarcinoma. It begins in the cells of the upper part of the cervical canal, cylindrical (glandular) epithelium. It occurs much less often - 10 in every 100 cases. Adenocarcinoma is diagnosed and treated in the same way as squamous cell cancer of the cervix.

Besides, the cancer is divided by the type of invasiveness (cell growth rate). At the initial stage, tumor cells grow slowly and affect only the area of the cervical mucosa. Later, the carcinoma becomes invasive and is characterized by an intensive growth of malignant cells. Invasive cancer affects other organs (metastases).

The transition from non-invasive to an invasive type of cervical cancer sometimes lasts for years, but it cannot be avoided. Therefore, it is essential to diagnose and treat cervical cancer in time.

Correct diagnosis is the key to success in treating the cervical tumor. The number of procedures is usually appointed individually - there is no only one universal method of treatment.

Statistics show high 5-year survival rate when patients are treated at the first stages of the disease - 92%.

Squamous cell carcinoma

In 80% of cases, cancer of the flat epithelium in the cervix of the uterus is diagnosed.

Squamous cells are skin-like cells that cover the outer surface of the cervix (the ectocervix). Squamous cell carcinoma is divided into:

  • with keratinized epithelial cells;
  • with small cells.

To understand the genesis of this type of cancer, one must know the features of the structure of the cervix. Its walls consist of many layers of epithelium. Between the flat and cylindrical (glandular, containing many glands) epithelium, there is a transformation zone.

The epithelium has 4 layers of different-aged cells. Under the influence of female hormones they pass into the older generation:

  • surface cells (old);
  • intermediate (mature);
  • parabasal (young);
  • basal (stem, nascent).

Throughout the life of a woman, epithelial cells are constantly renewed. Their main functions are protective and hormonal. If epithelial cells affected by cancer at an early stage the following symptoms occur:

  • pain in the genital area;
  • unnatural discharge from the vagina;
  • frequent vaginal yeast infection.

Gynecologists recommend undergoing regular examinations even in the absence of symptoms or complaints. At the initial stage, cervical cancer does not manifest itself. Therefore, it can be detected only by histological examination.

One of the most common forms of squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by aggressiveness and reduced keratin level in cells. Its symptoms are:

  • heavy bleeding;
  • vaginal yeast infection;
  • anemia;
  • constant body temperature 99°F ( 37°C).

Invasiveness of cervical carcinoma

With an invasive type of cancer, the tumor proliferates and affects healthy organs, spreading metastasis to local lymph nodes, and then to distant ones. At the later stages of the disease, the body is infected through the bloodstream.

Invasive grade

Manifestation

Microinvasive

In the beginning, it is localized between the epithelium and connective tissue. The lymphatic system is not blocked by malignant cells.

Invasive

It includes 4 stages. The tumor grows through the tissue of the cervix. Cancer cells clog the lymph system. Metastases can be found in distant organs.

The metastasis of cervical cancer has a pattern. In decreasing order metastases affect the following organs and tissues:

  • paraaortic lymph nodes (31%);
  • the pelvic area (about 30%);
  • lungs (16%);
  • bones (13%);
  • other organs (10%).

4 stages of cervical tumor

The main factor determining the treatment of cervical cancer is not so much its type as the staging of the disease.

Stage 1

Cancer is localized only in the cervix

Stage 2

Tumor grows to other parts of the vagina

Stage 3

Cancer affects the lower part of the vagina, organs of pelvic region, the body of the uterus

Stage 4

The tumor spreads to the bladder and rectum. Metastases can be detected in the distant organs.

To determine the stage of cervical cancer, the patient undergoes a number of diagnostic procedures: colposcopy, biopsy, and cytological examination.