Good Prognosis Went Badly: Fulminant Evolution of a 29-Year-Old Patient with Verrucous Carcinoma of the Cervix

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2017 Sep;6(3):499-502. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2017.0009. Epub 2017 May 12.

Abstract

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a very rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, difficult to point out in histology because of its benign appearance. We present the case of a 29-year-old woman with a locally advanced cervical VC who underwent radiotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy. After local relapse and despite pelvic exenteration, her condition deteriorated. Treatment of choice in VC is surgery, because of the risk of anaplastic transformation under irradiation, raising the chances of distant spread and converting this rather benign-like type of cancer to an aggressive cancer.

Keywords: anaplastic transformation; radical surgical excision; radiotherapy; verrucous cervical cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Verrucous / surgery
  • Cervix Uteri / pathology
  • Cervix Uteri / surgery
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local* / therapy
  • Palliative Care
  • Pelvic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pelvic Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Pelvic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / surgery