Adenocarcinoma of the cervix is an invasive tumour showing glandular differentiation. This cancer comprises 10-25% of all cervical cancers and most cases are related to prior infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Histologically there are many variants including usual-type, mucinous (gastric, intestinal, and signet-ring type), villoglandular, endometrioid, clear cell, serous, and mesonephric sub-types. Microscopically the tumour shows invasive glandular cells with enlarged, hyperchromatic, and pseudostratified nuclei, with eosinophilic to mucinous cytoplasm. By immunohistochemistry, the cells are commonly positive for p16, CEA, and CK7. The proliferation rate as measured by Ki-67 is typically high.
