Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina
Classification and external resources
ICD-O:	8310/3
DiseasesDB	2786
MeSH	D018262

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.^[1]

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.

References

1. ^ Hatch EE, Palmer JR, Titus-Ernstoff L, et al. (August 1998). "Cancer risk in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero". JAMA 280 (7): 630–4. doi:10.1001/jama.280.7.630. PMID 9718055. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=9718055. 

External links

• Clear cell adenocarcinoma entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

 This article incorporates public domain material from the U.S. National Cancer Institute document "Dictionary of Cancer Terms".