Clear cell adenocarcinoma
Encyclopedia
Clear cell adenocarcinoma or mesonephroma is a rare type of adenocarcinoma
. It usually affects cells in the female genital tract. Vaginal clear cell adenoma is common in women in their late teens and early 20's whose mothers took diethylstilbestrol
(DES) during pregnancy.
Some of these cancers may not appear until 30's or 40's and the overall risk is 1 in 1000 who were exposed in utero to DES. The cells become vacuolated and filled with glycogen, hence the term 'clear cell'. The cancer may arise from the cervix or more frequently from the vaginal mucosa and possibly derives from vaginal adenosis. This cancer is insidious and slow growing but very difficult to treat so it is mandatory that women exposed to DES during pregnancy be checked regularly by their physician. A specific exam is recommended for DES-exposed women.Recommendations for DES-exposed patients
The tumour cells appear clear when viewed through a microscope, for this reason it is classified as a clear cell carcinoma
.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a cancer of an epithelium that originates in glandular tissue. Epithelial tissue includes, but is not limited to, the surface layer of skin, glands and a variety of other tissue that lines the cavities and organs of the body. Epithelium can be derived embryologically from...
. It usually affects cells in the female genital tract. Vaginal clear cell adenoma is common in women in their late teens and early 20's whose mothers took diethylstilbestrol
Diethylstilbestrol
Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen that was first synthesized in 1938. Human exposure to DES occurred through diverse sources, such as dietary ingestion from supplemented cattle feed and medical treatment for certain conditions, including breast and prostate cancers...
(DES) during pregnancy.
Some of these cancers may not appear until 30's or 40's and the overall risk is 1 in 1000 who were exposed in utero to DES. The cells become vacuolated and filled with glycogen, hence the term 'clear cell'. The cancer may arise from the cervix or more frequently from the vaginal mucosa and possibly derives from vaginal adenosis. This cancer is insidious and slow growing but very difficult to treat so it is mandatory that women exposed to DES during pregnancy be checked regularly by their physician. A specific exam is recommended for DES-exposed women.Recommendations for DES-exposed patients
The tumour cells appear clear when viewed through a microscope, for this reason it is classified as a clear cell carcinoma
Clear cell adenocarcinoma
Clear cell adenocarcinoma or mesonephroma is a rare type of adenocarcinoma. It usually affects cells in the female genital tract. Vaginal clear cell adenoma is common in women in their late teens and early 20's whose mothers took diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy.Some of these cancers may not...
.
External links
- Clear cell adenocarcinoma entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms