Abstract

More than 2000 years have elapsed since the first description of cervical cancer by Hippocrates. Aretaeus, an ancient Greek physician practicing in the first century before Christ, described uterine cancer as superficial and deep ulcers, which later infiltrate the uterus1 • In 1812 John Clarke described a peculiar degeneration of the cervix, which he called a cauliflower tumor because of it's appearance2• Charles Mansneld Clarke introduced the term carcinoma uteri in 1821 and Hooper identified the cauliflower as a carcinoma of the cervix in 18323. Initia lly there was no distinction between cervical and endometrial carcinoma. Adenoma malignum was used for highly differentiated glandular carcinomas, without distinction in origin. When it became clear that cervical cancer was a separate entity, different types of cervical cancer were described. In German literature Portiokarzinom (karzinom der ektocervix, squamous cell carcinoma origi nating from the portio vaginalis) and Zervixhohlenkarzinom (karzinom der endocervix, adenocarcinoma arizing from the cervical channei)H were dist inguished. Ruge and Veit 1881 and later the school of Schroeder different iated between a portio carcinoma, arising from the connective tissue oft he cervix or from columnar epithelial erosions and cervical carcinoma arising from de cervical glands or from the connective tissue. Treub in 1892 proposed another classification, based on the extension of the different tumor types. He described t he carcinoma of the cervix, also called cancroid or epithelioma as a cancer which originated from the squamous epithelium of the portio vaginalis and the 'Zervixcarcinoma' (cervical cancer) which originated from the cervical glands8 . Today, we speak of cervical carcinoma, without differentiating between portio and cervical cancer.

T.J.M. Helmerhorst (Theo)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Publication of th is thesis was financial lysupported by Medical Dynamics, Will Pharma, Covidien, Takeda, Kebomed, Rovers Medical Devices and Werkgroep Cervix Uteri.
hdl.handle.net/1765/76948
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Baalbergen, A. (2014, October 7). Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix and its Precursor Lesion. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/76948