Master Vaginal Cancer Subtypes with Picmonic for Medicine

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common subtype of vaginal carcinoma. As primary SCC is rare, vaginal SCC usually occurs secondary to cervical SCC.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common subtype of vaginal carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina usually arises from cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Cervical cancer is a common gynecologic malignancy that has fortunately become much less fatal since screening methods (e.g., Pap smear).

Clear cell adenocarcinoma primarily impacts females of mothers exposed to DES (diethylstilbestrol) in utero.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma primarily impacts females of mothers exposed to DES (diethylstilbestrol) in utero. DES was thought to prevent complications of pregnancy by boosting estrogenic activity during the mid-1900s until there was substantial evidence for the link between clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and subsequent infertility.

Sarcoma botryoides is a rare vaginal carcinoma subtype but is highly malignant with a peak incidence in childhood (< 4 years old).

Sarcoma botryoides is a highly malignant embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyoblasts can be found anywhere in the body where smooth muscle tissue surrounds an epithelial lumen. They are present in the vaginal epithelium. There is a peak incidence of this vaginal cancer in childhood, commonly in those less than 4 years old.

Sarcoma botryoides is associated with clear, gross polypoid masses that resemble a bundle of grapes, which protrude from the vagina.

Tumor cells of sarcoma botryoides are characterized by a spindle-shaped pleomorphic appearance on microscopy.

Sarcoma botryoides is desmin positive on immunohistochemical staining. Desmin is a muscle-specific protein that comprises intermediate filaments. Desmin IHC is used to identify neoplastic cells arising from muscle.