Background: Transitional cell carcinoma of the cervix (TCCC) is a rare neoplasm of recent description. The cytologic characteristics of the tumor have not been published to date. Six cases of TCCC are described, including their clinical, histologic, cytologic and immunohistochemical features.
Cases: All cases presented at an advanced clinical stage; two recurred, and one metastasized. Five cases showed a papillary exophytic pattern, and one case showed an "inverted" endophytic pattern similar to that of transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium (TCCU). The cytokeratin profile was similar to that of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCCC), positive for CK 7 and negative for CK 20. The cervical smears showed a background that was necrotic or hemorrhagic. The cells with transitional features formed cohesive groups in a multilayered fashion and had an oval or spindle shape with tapered ends. The nuclei were hyperchromatic, with coarse and medium-sized granules that frequently displayed a wrinkled membrane, nuclear grooves and rare pseudoinclusions. The nucleoli were small or absent. Others cells with cytologic characteristics of SCCC were seen in all cases.
Conclusion: TCCC is a rare neoplasm that probably represents a subgroup of SCCC. The most frequent histologic pattern is papillary-exophytic, but it can be inverted-endophytic. In cervical smears there are cells with characteristics of regular SCCC and others resembling those of TCCU. A larger number of cases is needed to define the evolution and clinical outcome.