Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix: incidence, undetected disease, and diethylstilbestrol. 1988

R I Horwitz, and C M Viscoli, and M Merino, and T A Brennan, and J T Flannery, and S J Robboy
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.

We conducted an incidence study to determine the occurrence rates of clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCAC) of the vagina and cervix in young women (born in 1940 and thereafter), and a case-series analysis, focusing on the maternal history of pregnancy and delivery and in-utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES). Overall, 10 cases of CCAC had been listed in the files of the Connecticut State Tumor Registry prior to the study, and each of the 10 cases were confirmed as valid. In addition, another 10 cases, all previously undetected, were found after the tissue slides of young women listed as having other cancers of the vagina and cervix were reviewed by expert pathologists, suggesting that prior estimates of the incidence rate for CCAC must be misleading unless special efforts are taken to identify undetected cases. The incidence rates of vaginal CCAC (11 cases total) were highest in 1975-1979, and decreased slightly during 1980-1982. In the cervix (nine cases total), the rate increased consistently since 1970. History of in-utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol was obtained for five of eight vaginal cases and four of eight cervical cases of CCAC. In all nine cases, exposure to diethylstilbestrol was associated with a history of bleeding during the pregnancy or prior miscarriage. We conclude that the finding of stable (or rising) incidence rates for CCAC occurring nearly 30 years after the marked decrease in diethylstilbestrol sales emphasizes the need for continued clinical and epidemiologic studies of the etiology and clinical course of CCAC.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248 Pregnancy Complications Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases. Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D011297 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH. Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D012042 Registries The systems and processes involved in the establishment, support, management, and operation of registers, e.g., disease registers. Parish Registers,Population Register,Parish Register,Population Registers,Register, Parish,Register, Population,Registers, Parish,Registers, Population,Registry
D002583 Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the UTERINE CERVIX. Cancer of Cervix,Cancer of the Cervix,Cancer of the Uterine Cervix,Cervical Cancer,Cervical Neoplasms,Cervix Cancer,Cervix Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Cervical,Neoplasms, Cervix,Uterine Cervical Cancer,Cancer, Cervical,Cancer, Cervix,Cancer, Uterine Cervical,Cervical Cancer, Uterine,Cervical Cancers,Cervical Neoplasm,Cervical Neoplasm, Uterine,Cervix Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Cervix,Neoplasm, Uterine Cervical,Uterine Cervical Cancers,Uterine Cervical Neoplasm
D003237 Connecticut State bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Rhode Island, on the south by Long Island Sound, and on the west by New York.
D004054 Diethylstilbestrol A synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen used in the treatment of menopausal and postmenopausal disorders. It was also used formerly as a growth promoter in animals. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), diethylstilbestrol has been listed as a known carcinogen. (Merck, 11th ed) Stilbestrol,Agostilben,Apstil,Diethylstilbestrol, (Z)-Isomer,Diethylstilbestrol, Disodium Salt,Distilbène,Stilbene Estrogen,Tampovagan,Estrogen, Stilbene
D004812 Epidemiologic Methods Research techniques that focus on study designs and data gathering methods in human and animal populations. Epidemiologic Method,Epidemiological Methods,Methods, Epidemiologic,Epidemiological Method,Method, Epidemiologic,Method, Epidemiological,Methods, Epidemiological
D005069 Evaluation Studies as Topic Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies. Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D005260 Female Females

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