Epidemiological studies of cervical carcinoma show that cigarette smoking confers approximately a twofold increase in risk for one specific histological subtype. Which subtype is this?

• A Adenocarcinoma
• B Squamous cell carcinoma ✓
• C Clear cell carcinoma
• D Adenoid cystic carcinoma

Explanation

Smoking is an independent cofactor that roughly doubles the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Nicotine and its metabolite cotinine concentrate in cervical mucus, producing local immunosuppression and DNA damage that promote persistence of HPV infection. The association with glandular tumours such as adenocarcinoma is weak or absent, which kills the most tempting distractor.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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