Tumor Typing of Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: Contemporary Review and Recommendations From the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists

Abstract

The incidence of endocervical adenocarcinoma, the second most common cervical cancer in the world, has been on the rise. While most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas and associated with high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), approximately 15% of endocervical adenocarcinomas, which now represent about one quarter of all cervical cancers, are HPV-independent. In this review, we will focus on the shortcomings of historical histologic classification systems of female genital tract tumors as they pertain to endocervical adenocarcinomas, and we will highlight the advantages of the new International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification system, which forms the basis for the WHO 2020 classification. We will cover the various histologic types, subtypes, and variants of endocervical adenocarcinoma with regard to morphology, immunophenotype, molecular genetics, HPV status and differential diagnosis, and we will provide International Society of Gynecological Pathologists recommendations for diagnosing these tumors.