Cervical carcinoma

Abstract

Cervical carcinoma or cancer of the cervix (a canal connecting the uterus to the vagina) is the second most common cancer in women ages 35 to 55. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), also known as gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), does not develop from the uterine cells like cervical carcinoma; it is an abnormal trophoblastic proliferation inside the uterus. Cervical cancer can be a very serious disease, yet if it is detected early, it can be treated. Through the use of a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test, abnormal cells of the cervix can be detected. Over the years, normal cervical cells can turn into precancerous cells and later change into cancer cells. If the cells are invasive, they can become cancerous in less than a year. In some cases, sonography can be used to better delineate the extent of the disease. Cervical cancer can be caused by a human papillomavirus through sexual intercourse. As the woman's age of her first intercourse decreases, the chance of cervical cancer increases, especially with multiple partners and no regular Pap smears.