What is the most common histologic type of cervical cancer?

What is the most common histologic type of cervical cancer?

• A. Adenocarcinoma
• B. Squamous cell carcinoma
• C. Small cell carcinoma
• D. Clear cell carcinoma

Answer: (B)

The most common histologic type of cervical cancer arises from the squamous cells lining the cervix, specifically at the transformation zone where squamous epithelium meets glandular mucosa. Because of this, squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant form, accounting for the majority of cervical cancers in many populations. The strong link to persistent high-risk HPV infection drives malignant transformation at this junction, which explains why this histology is far more common than others. Adenocarcinoma comes from the endocervical glandular lining and is the next most frequent type, but it remains less common than squamous cell carcinoma. The remaining histologies—small cell carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma—are rare in cervical cancer; small cell is a neuroendocrine tumor and clear cell carcinoma is uncommon (historically associated with DES exposure, but now quite rare).

The most common histologic type of cervical cancer arises from the squamous cells lining the cervix, specifically at the transformation zone where squamous epithelium meets glandular mucosa. Because of this, squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant form, accounting for the majority of cervical cancers in many populations. The strong link to persistent high-risk HPV infection drives malignant transformation at this junction, which explains why this histology is far more common than others.

Adenocarcinoma comes from the endocervical glandular lining and is the next most frequent type, but it remains less common than squamous cell carcinoma. The remaining histologies—small cell carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma—are rare in cervical cancer; small cell is a neuroendocrine tumor and clear cell carcinoma is uncommon (historically associated with DES exposure, but now quite rare).