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Squamous cell carcinomas are by far the most common types of cervical cancer, responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. In fact, this disease is the second most common cause of cancer death in women around the world after cancer of the breast. Adenocarcinoma of the cervix is becoming more prevalent, especially in areas where Pap smear screening is being used. This stems from the fact that adenocarcinoma of the cervix is not well screened by the Pap smear.
At the junction between the vagina and the endocervix, there is a zone of transformation between the flat tile-shaped (squamous) cells and the cuboidal cells arranged into the rings and tubes of the endocervical glands. Both kinds of cell types can become infected by the human papilloma virus, (HPV). Tumors from these different types of cells give rise to squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
The behavior of the tumors is similar in that they spread to adjacent organs and cause problems due to invasion of local tissues. For that reason, aggressive treatment directed against the organs of the pelvis with either radical surgery or radiation given simultaneously with chemotherapy can be curative for early stage disease. There is an increased incidence of involvement of lymph nodes in adenocarcinomas, leading to the conclusion that these cancers are faster growing and more dangerous.
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What is the difference between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the cervix in terms of survival rates, treatment and growth of tumour times?