A 29-year-old woman presents with a rapidly enlarging cervical mass and widespread pulmonary metastases within months of diagnosis. Biopsy shows sheets of small round blue cells with scant cytoplasm, chromogranin positivity and perinuclear dot-like cytokeratin staining. Which statement about this tumour is correct?
- A It is strongly associated with HPV 16 and treated primarily with radical surgery
- B It is an HPV-independent tumour arising from reserve cells
- C It is strongly associated with HPV 18 and systemic chemotherapy forms the mainstay of treatment ✓
- D It carries a better prognosis than squamous cell carcinoma of comparable stage
Correct answer: C. It is strongly associated with HPV 18 and systemic chemotherapy forms the mainstay of treatment
Explanation
Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix is strongly associated with HPV 18, behaves aggressively with early haematogenous spread, and is managed with systemic chemotherapy, typically etoposide plus cisplatin or carboplatin, often combined with surgery or radiation for local control. It is not HPV-independent, and its prognosis is markedly worse than stage-matched squamous cell carcinoma, so radical surgery alone is inadequate.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.