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Small cell cervical cancer: an unusual finding at cholecystectomy

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Abstract

Background

Small cell carcinoma of the cervix is a rare cancer, comprising less than 3% of all cervical neoplasms. It uniformly has a poor prognosis, and has a high mortality even with early stage disease. It can metastasise rapidly and metastatic sites include lung, liver, brain, bone, pancreas and lymph nodes.

Case

Here, we report the case of a 60-year-old woman with no symptoms of cervical pathology who developed post-renal failure following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The cause was bilateral ureteric obstruction from metastatic small cell cervical cancer and metastases were subsequently found on her gallbladder specimen.

Conclusion

This is an unusual presentation of small cell cervical cancer and demonstrates the aggressive nature of this disease.

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Correspondence to Emily Boyle.

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Boyle, E., Nzewi, E., Khan, I. et al. Small cell cervical cancer: an unusual finding at cholecystectomy. Arch Gynecol Obstet 279, 251–254 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0693-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0693-5

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