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Cervical Neuroendocrine Cancer — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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HardGynaecological CancersCervical Neuroendocrine CancerSCE Medical Oncology

A 40-year-old woman with cervical cancer is found to have a low-grade neuroendocrine tumour on biopsy rather than the expected squamous cell carcinoma. What is the significance of neuroendocrine histology in cervical cancer?

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Correct answer: E — Neuroendocrine cervical cancer is aggressive, managed similarly to small cell carcinoma with platinum-etoposide chemotherapy ± radiation

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (small cell/large cell type) is rare (<5% of cervical cancers) but highly aggressive with a propensity for early distant metastasis. Management follows small cell carcinoma principles: platinum-etoposide chemotherapy with concurrent radiation for localised disease, and systemic chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Prognosis is significantly worse than squamous or adenocarcinoma histology. Standard cervical cancer staging and treatment paradigms (chemoradiation alone) are inadequate.

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/cancer