Stratified mucin producing intraepithelial lesion, usually abbreviated as SMILE, is a rare precancerous condition of the cervix caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). It is described as having features of both squamous cells (flat cells that line the outer surface of the cervix) and glandular cells (mucus-producing cells that line the inside of the …
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Clear cell carcinoma is a rare type of cervical cancer that develops from glandular cells in the cervix. It is called “clear cell” because the cancer cells often have pale or transparent-looking cytoplasm (the body of the cell that surrounds the nucleus) when viewed under the microscope. Clear cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 3 to …
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HPV-independent gastric-type adenocarcinoma is a rare type of cervical cancer that develops from glandular cells in the cervix. Glandular cells normally produce mucus and line the inside of the cervical canal. Unlike most cervical cancers, this tumor is not caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Instead, the tumor cells take on features resembling those …
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HPV-independent squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cervical cancer that develops from squamous cells, the flat cells that cover the outer surface of the cervix. Unlike most cervical cancers, this tumor is not caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Instead, it develops through other genetic and molecular changes that allow squamous cells to …
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Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) is a rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer. It develops from small cancer cells that exhibit neuroendocrine differentiation, meaning they behave like the hormone-producing cells found throughout the body. Because it is a high-grade cancer, SCNEC tends to grow quickly and spread early, often before the tumor itself is …
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Squamous intraepithelial lesion is an abnormal growth caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). This condition affects the squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that line certain areas of the body, including the cervix, vagina, vulva, and anus. Squamous intraepithelial lesion is considered a precancerous disease, meaning it has the potential to develop into …
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Microglandular hyperplasia is a noncancerous condition of the cervix in which the glandular cells grow in greater numbers than usual and form many small, closely packed glands. The word hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells in a tissue. Microglandular hyperplasia is harmless. It does not become cancer, and having this condition …
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Tunnel clusters are groups of small gland-like structures that can form in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. These glands are lined by the same mucus-producing cells that are normally found in the cervix. Under the microscope, they often appear as tightly packed tubes or tunnels, …
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A Nabothian cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that develops on the surface of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Nabothian cysts are very common and benign, meaning they are noncancerous and generally harmless. They form when small mucus-producing glands in the cervix become covered or blocked. Mucus …
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Chronic cervicitis means long-term inflammation of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Inflammation most often develops in the transformation zone, the area where glandular cells lining the inside of the cervix are gradually replaced by squamous cells from the outer surface. Chronic cervicitis is very common and may …
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