Endocervical adenocarcinoma is a less common type of cervical cancer that develops from glandular tissue in the endocervical canal, making it harder to detect than squamous cell carcinoma. Symptoms include abnormal bleeding and discomfort during sex. Treatment varies depending on the stage of the cancer.
Endocervical adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that affects the cervix. The cervix is the lowest end of the uterus, sometimes known as the cervix. Adenocarcinoma, which develops from glandular tissue, is not as common as the most common cervical cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, which arises from the epithelium lining the cervix. Because endocervical adenocarcinoma occurs in cells located within the endocervical canal, the passageway within the cervix, the cancer is much more difficult to detect than squamous cell carcinoma, which develops on the surface of the cervix. Treatment can involve surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but the specific therapy used and the outlook after treatment varies depending on how advanced the cancer is.
The adenomatous cells, from which endocervical adenocarcinoma develops, are found in the lining of the endocervical canal, where they produce mucus. While endocervical adenocarcinoma is less common than squamous cell carcinoma, it is becoming more common. Although the two main types of cancer that affect the cervix develop from different cells, both types of cancerous growths can cause similar symptoms and can be treated using the same methods.
Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma or endocervical adenocarcinoma may not be obvious, especially at first, but abnormal bleeding from the vagina is sometimes seen. This could be bleeding that occurs in a woman who has already gone through menopause, that occurs after intercourse, or that occurs between periods. Occasionally, you experience a foul-smelling vaginal discharge or may experience discomfort during sex. Sometimes a woman with endocervical adenocarcinoma notices no symptoms, but a cervical screening test detects signs of cancer, although screening is less effective than for squamous cell carcinoma.
When endocervical adenocarcinoma is suspected, samples of cells from the endocervix may be taken and a cone biopsy, in which a small section of the cervix is removed for microscopic analysis, may be done. Cancer staging is done to determine how far the cancer has progressed. The stage of the cancer then determines the treatment plan. In the early stages, endocervical adenocarcinoma can be cured, and treatment generally consists of surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two. Advanced cancers, which have spread beyond the cervix and upper part of the vagina, can sometimes be treated by surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, as long as they have not spread to distant parts of the body.
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