Clinico-pathological study of cervical carcinoma with massive infiltration of eosinophils]

Eight patients with cervical carcinoma with massive stromal infiltration of eosinophils were selected for a clinicopathological study among 474 patients with cervical carcinoma at stages Ib-IIIb who underwent radical hysterectomy between 1971 and 1989 at Kyoto University Hospital. The 8 patients ranged in age from 28 to 48 years and had menstrual cycles. The peripheral leucocyte count in 5 patients showed eosinophilia of the peripheral blood. Histologically, the cervical carcinoma was a locally advanced tumor with invasion of more than 2/3rds the depth of the cervical wall in 6 cases, and with parametrial involvement in 4 cases. Massive infiltration of eosinophils was observed not only around the cancer nests but also within the regional lymph nodes. Mast cells expressing immunoreactivity for histamine were scarce around the tumor. Consequently, the production of an eosinophil chemotactic factor by the tumor cells was strongly suggested. PAS and Alcian-blue staining as well as electron microscopy revealed that the tumor cells in most cases had the histological characteristics of both squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Collectively, these clinicopathological characteristics of cervical carcinoma with massive infiltration of eosinophils distinguish this tumor from conventional cervical carcinomas.