Clear cell tumors of the female genital tract

Semin Diagn Pathol. 1997 Nov;14(4):233-9.

Abstract

Clear cell adenocarcinomas of the vagina, cervix, endometrium, and ovaries show very similar histological features. Several other tumors and tumor-like lesions of the female genital tract may also contain clear cells and may occasionally be misinterpreted as clear cell adenocarcinomas. These conditions include microglandular hyperplasia, mesonephric hyperplasia, Arias-Stella change, smooth muscle tumors containing clear cells, dysgerminoma, yolk sac tumor, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, steroid cell tumors, hepatoid carcinomas, signet-ring-cell stromal tumors, and trophoblastic tumors. This review discusses the histological features of all of these lesions, emphasizing the morphological aspects that are essential to accurate differential diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / chemically induced
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / pathology*
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diethylstilbestrol / adverse effects
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / chemically induced
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / pathology*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / secondary
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Trophoblastic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Diethylstilbestrol