Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Oncology Letters
      • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Oncology Reports
      • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Medicine International
      • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
  • Articles
  • Information
    • Information for Authors
    • Information for Reviewers
    • Information for Librarians
    • Information for Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Spandidos Publications Logo
  • About
    • About Spandidos
    • Aims and Scopes
    • Abstracting and Indexing
    • Editorial Policies
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Job Opportunities
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
  • Journals
    • All Journals
    • Biomedical Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Epigenetics
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Functional Nutrition
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Molecular Medicine
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • International Journal of Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Medicine International
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Molecular and Clinical Oncology
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Molecular Medicine Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Oncology Letters
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • Oncology Reports
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
    • World Academy of Sciences Journal
      • Information for Authors
      • Editorial Policies
      • Editorial Board
      • Aims and Scope
      • Abstracting and Indexing
      • Bibliographic Information
  • Articles
  • Information
    • For Authors
    • For Reviewers
    • For Librarians
    • For Advertisers
    • Conferences
  • Language Editing
Login Register Submit
  • This site uses cookies
  • You can change your cookie settings at any time by following the instructions in our Cookie Policy. To find out more, you may read our Privacy Policy.

    I agree
Search articles by DOI, keyword, author or affiliation
Search
Advanced Search
presentation
Oncology Letters
Join Editorial Board Propose a Special Issue
Print ISSN: 1792-1074 Online ISSN: 1792-1082
Journal Cover
August-2025 Volume 30 Issue 2

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment.

Molecular Medicine Reports

Molecular Medicine Reports

Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology.

Biomedical Reports

Biomedical Reports

Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology.

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

World Academy of Sciences Journal

World Academy of Sciences Journal

Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology.

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition.

International Journal of Epigenetics

International Journal of Epigenetics

Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

Journal Cover
August-2025 Volume 30 Issue 2

Full Size Image

Sign up for eToc alerts
Recommend to Library

  • Article
  • Citations
    • Cite This Article
    • Download Citation
    • Create Citation Alert
    • Remove Citation Alert
    • Cited By
  • Similar Articles
    • Related Articles (in Spandidos Publications)
    • Similar Articles (Google Scholar)
    • Similar Articles (PubMed)
  • Download PDF
  • Download XML
  • View XML
Article Open Access

Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix 

  • Authors:
    • Mayo Odaka
    • Mitsuaki Ishida
    • Hiroyuki Okanishi
    • Mari Tomiuka
    • Kozue Ariga
    • Isako Kataoka
    • Mayumi Uragami
    • Chihiro Deguchi
    • Naoto Kohno
    • Shizuka Ono
    • Reika Takeda
    • Yoshimichi Tanaka
    • Tomohito Tanaka
    • Yoshinobu Hirose
  • View Affiliations

    Affiliations: Division of Pathology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Takatsuki, Osaka 569‑8686, Japan, Department of Pathology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki, Osaka 569‑8686, Japan, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki, Osaka 569‑8686, Japan
  • Published online on: June 18, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15147
  • Article Number: 401
  • Copyright: © Odaka et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

This article is mentioned in:



Abstract

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) of the cervix is rare. Cytological examination is a valuable tool for detecting cervical lesions; however, due to the rarity of cervical SCNEC, its accurate diagnosis remains challenging. In some cases, cervical SCNEC coexists with other non‑neuroendocrine components, forming what is known as combined SCNEC. The cytological features of combined SCNEC have not been well‑documented. The present study retrospectively analysed the clinicocytological features of cervical SCNEC, including combined SCNEC. A total of six patients diagnosed with cervical SCNEC (three with pure SCNEC, two with combined SCNEC and one with carcinosarcoma) who underwent preoperative cervical cytological examination and were diagnosed with SCNEC through biopsy and/or surgical resection were included in the current study. The median patient age was 55 years, and the combined SCNEC cases included both SCNEC and adenocarcinoma components. Retrospective cytological examination revealed that cervical specimens from all six patients contained SCNEC components, characterised by clusters of small round neoplastic cells with round to oval nuclei, fine chromatin, and inconspicuous nucleoli in a necrotic or inflammatory background. Among the two patients with combined SCNEC, one exhibited an adenocarcinoma component, whereas the patient with carcinosarcoma had a sarcomatous component. These findings suggested that most cases of SCNEC can be detected in cervical cytological specimens. Additionally, other combined carcinoma components may be identified. Notably, careful cytological examination may facilitate the accurate diagnosis of cervical SCNEC, enabling timely treatment for this aggressive malignancy.
View Figures

Figure 1

Cytological features of cervical small
cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. (A) Small and large clusters of
small, round neoplastic cells in a necrotic background. (B) The
neoplastic cells have round-to-oval nuclei containing fine granular
chromatin without conspicuous nucleoli and a high
nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio. Nuclear moulding is a characteristic
feature. (C) Both small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (red arrow)
and adenocarcinoma (black arrow) are present (Patient 1). (D)
Adenocarcinoma component consists of columnar neoplastic cells
containing large, round-to-oval nuclei and intracytoplasmic mucin.
(E) Small cluster of the spindle-shaped neoplastic cells
(sarcomatous component) (black arrow) is admixed with small cell
neuroendocrine carcinoma (red arrow) (Patient 6). (F)
Spindle-shaped neoplastic cells have large oval-to-short spindle
nuclei (sarcomatous component) (Patient 6). Papanicolaou staining
magnification, (A and C) ×100 and (B and D-F) ×400.

Figure 2

Histopathological features of cervical
small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. (A) Proliferation of small
round neoplastic cells is noted under the non-neoplastic cervical
squamous epithelium. (B) These neoplastic cells have round-to-oval
nuclei without conspicuous nucleoli, and necrosis is also noted
within the tumour nest. (C) Combined small cell neuroendocrine
carcinoma (Patient 5). Both small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
(red arrows) and adenocarcinoma (black arrows) components are
present (D) Proliferation of spindle-shaped neoplastic cells
(sarcomatous component) is admixed with small cell neuroendocrine
carcinoma component (red arrows) (Patient 6). Haematoxylin and
eosin staining magnification, (A and C) ×40, (B) ×400 and (D)
×200.

Figure 3

Immunohistochemical features of
cervical combined small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (Patient 5).
(A) CD56, (B) chromogranin A and (C) synaptophysin are expressed in
the small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma component (left lower) but
not in the adenocarcinoma component (right upper). (D) p16
expression is observed in both small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
(left lower) and adenocarcinoma (right upper) components.
Magnification, ×200.
View References

1 

Alvarado-Cabrero I, Euscher ED, Ganesan R and Howitt BE: Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. WHO Classification of Tumours. Female Genital Tumours. 5th Edition. Volume 4. IARC Publications; Lyon, France: pp. 455–456. 2020

2 

Rouzbahman M and Clarke B: Neuroendocrine tumors of the gynecologic tract: Select topics. Semin Diagn Pathol. 30:224–233. 2013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

3 

Tempfer CB, Tischoff I, Dogan A, Hilal Z, Schultheis B, Kern P and Rezniczek GA: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: A systematic review of the literature. BMC Cancer. 18:5302018. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

4 

Chu T, Meng Y, Wu P, Li Z, Wen H, Ren F, Zou D, Lu H, Wu L, Zhou S, et al: The prognosis of patients with small cell carcinoma of the cervix: A retrospective study of the SEER database and a Chinese multicentre registry. Lancet Oncol. 24:701–708. 2023. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

5 

Nayar R and Wilbur DC: The Bethesda system for reporting cervical cytology. 3rd Edition. Springer; Switzerland: 2015, View Article : Google Scholar

6 

Zhou C, Hayes MM, Clement PB and Thomson TA: Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: Cytologic findings in 13 cases. Cancer. 84:281–288. 1998. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

7 

Liu Y, Li M, Liu Y, Wan Y, Yang B, Li D and Wang S: Liquid-based cytology of small cell carcinoma of the cervix: A multicenter retrospective study. Onco Targets Ther. 17:557–565. 2024. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

8 

Ebisu Y, Ishida M, Okano K, Sandoh K, Mizokami T, Kita M, Okada H and Tsuta K: Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in directly sampled endometrial cytology: A monocentric retrospective study of six cases. Diagn Cytopathol. 47:1297–1301. 2019. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

9 

Ishida M, Okano K, Sandoh K, Ito H, Ikeura T, Mitsuyama T, Miyoshi H, Shimatani M, Takaoka M, Okazaki K and Tsuta K: Neuroendocrine carcinoma diagnosis from bile duct cytological specimens: A retrospective single-center study. Diagn Cytopathol. 48:154–158. 2020. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

10 

Yoshida K, Ishida M, Kagotani A, Iwamoto N, Iwai M and Okabe H: Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and prostate: Cytological analyses of four cases with emphasis on the usefulness of cytological examination. Oncol Lett. 7:369–372. 2014. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

11 

Alvarado-Cabrero I, Euscher ED, Ganesan R and Howitt BE: Carcinoma admixed with neuroendocrine carcinoma. WHO Classification of Tumours, Female Genital Tumours. 5th Edition. Volume 4. IARC Press; Lyon, France: pp. 4592020

12 

Masuda M, Iida K, Iwabuchi S, Tanaka M, Kubota S, Uematsu H, Onuma K, Kukita Y, Kato K, Kamiura S, et al: Clonal origin and lineage ambiguity in mixed neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Am J Pathol. 194:415–429. 2024. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

13 

Pei X, Xiang L, Chen W, Jiang W, Yin L, Shen X, Zhou X and Yang H: The next generation sequencing of cancer-related genes in small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix. Gynecol Oncol. 161:779–786. 2021. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

14 

Li S and Zhu H: Twelve cases of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the uterine cervix: Cytology, histopathology and discussion of their histogenesis. Acta Cytol. 57:54–60. 2013. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

15 

Giordano G, D'Adda T, Pizzi S, Campanini N, Gambino G and Berretta R: Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix: A case report. Mol Clin Oncol. 14:922021. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

16 

Okabe A, Ishida M, Noda Y, Okano K, Sandoh K, Fukuda H, Kita M, Okada H and Tsuta K: Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix accompanied by adenocarcinoma and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Diagn Cytopathol. 50:E285–E288. 2022. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

17 

Nishiumi Y, Nishimura T, Kashu I, Aoki T, Itoh R, Tsuta K and Ishida M: Adenocarcinoma in situ admixed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: A case report with cytological features. Diagn Cytopathol. 46:752–755. 2018. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

18 

Shimojo N, Hirokawa YS, Kanayama K, Yoneda M, Hashizume R, Hayashi A, Uchida K, Imai H, Kozuka Y and Shiraishi T: Cytological features of adenocarcinoma admixed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Cytojournal. 14:122017.PubMed/NCBI

19 

Alphandery C, Dagrada G, Frattini M, Perrone F and Pilotti S: Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix associated with endocervical adenocarcinoma: A case report. Acta Cytol. 51:589–593. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

20 

Gupta P, Gupta N, Suri V, Rai B and Rajwanshi A: Cytomorphological features of cervical small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in SurePath™ liquid-based cervical samples. Cytopathology. 32:813–818. 2021. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

21 

Kim MJ, Kim NR, Cho HY, Lee SP and Ha SY: Differential diagnostic features of small cell carcinoma in the uterine cervix. Diagn Cytopathol. 36:618–623. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

22 

Kim Y, Ha HJ, Kim JS, Chung JH, Koh JS, Park S and Lee SS: Significance of cytologic smears in the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Acta Cytol. 46:637–644. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

23 

Yemelyanova A, Kong CS and Srinivasan R: Carcinosarcoma. WHO Classification of Tumours. Female Genital Tumours. 5th Edition. Volume 4; IARC Press; Lyon, France: pp. 3822020

24 

Costa MJ, Tidd C and Willis D: Cervicovaginal cytology in carcinosarcoma [malignant mixed Mullerian (mesodermal) tumor] of the uterus. Diagn Cytopathol. 8:33–40. 1992. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

25 

Okano K, Ishida M, Sandoh K, Mizokami T, Kita M, Okada H and Tsuta K: Cytological features of uterine carcinosarcoma: A retrospective study of 20 cases with an emphasis on the usefulness of endometrial cytology. Diagn Cytopathol. 47:547–552. 2019. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI

Related Articles

  • Abstract
  • View
  • Download
  • Twitter
Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Odaka M, Ishida M, Okanishi H, Tomiuka M, Ariga K, Kataoka I, Uragami M, Deguchi C, Kohno N, Ono S, Ono S, et al: Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix . Oncol Lett 30: 401, 2025.
APA
Odaka, M., Ishida, M., Okanishi, H., Tomiuka, M., Ariga, K., Kataoka, I. ... Hirose, Y. (2025). Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix . Oncology Letters, 30, 401. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15147
MLA
Odaka, M., Ishida, M., Okanishi, H., Tomiuka, M., Ariga, K., Kataoka, I., Uragami, M., Deguchi, C., Kohno, N., Ono, S., Takeda, R., Tanaka, Y., Tanaka, T., Hirose, Y."Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix ". Oncology Letters 30.2 (2025): 401.
Chicago
Odaka, M., Ishida, M., Okanishi, H., Tomiuka, M., Ariga, K., Kataoka, I., Uragami, M., Deguchi, C., Kohno, N., Ono, S., Takeda, R., Tanaka, Y., Tanaka, T., Hirose, Y."Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix ". Oncology Letters 30, no. 2 (2025): 401. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15147
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Odaka M, Ishida M, Okanishi H, Tomiuka M, Ariga K, Kataoka I, Uragami M, Deguchi C, Kohno N, Ono S, Ono S, et al: Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix . Oncol Lett 30: 401, 2025.
APA
Odaka, M., Ishida, M., Okanishi, H., Tomiuka, M., Ariga, K., Kataoka, I. ... Hirose, Y. (2025). Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix . Oncology Letters, 30, 401. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15147
MLA
Odaka, M., Ishida, M., Okanishi, H., Tomiuka, M., Ariga, K., Kataoka, I., Uragami, M., Deguchi, C., Kohno, N., Ono, S., Takeda, R., Tanaka, Y., Tanaka, T., Hirose, Y."Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix ". Oncology Letters 30.2 (2025): 401.
Chicago
Odaka, M., Ishida, M., Okanishi, H., Tomiuka, M., Ariga, K., Kataoka, I., Uragami, M., Deguchi, C., Kohno, N., Ono, S., Takeda, R., Tanaka, Y., Tanaka, T., Hirose, Y."Cytological features of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix ". Oncology Letters 30, no. 2 (2025): 401. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15147
Follow us
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
About
  • Spandidos Publications
  • Careers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
How can we help?
  • Help
  • Live Chat
  • Contact
  • Email to our Support Team