Adenoid cystic carcinoma of uterine cervix.

A 68-year-old postmenopausal patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervic is described. Thirty-two other cases were collected from the literature, and a clinicopathologic analysis for the whole group is presented. The study indicates that a) adenoid cystic carcinoma usually occurs in postmenopausal patients in the commonest presenting problems; c) vaginal cytology was abnormal in most cases in which it was reported; d) the lesion usually forms a mass and infiltrates parametrial and paracervical tissues; e) the tumor is frequently associated with squamous cell carcinoma (in situ or invasive) or other types of cancer; f) local recurrence after radical surgery and /or irradiation, as well as pelvic and widespread metastases, can occur; and g) the histogenesis of this type of tumor is unclear. The various possibilities are discussed.