Cervical Cancer
The AIDS-defining cancers are Kaposi sarcoma, certain lymphomas and cervical cancer.
Treatment at a glance
- Cisplatin weekly with pelvic radiotherapy, then brachytherapy
What our notes say
- The AIDS-defining cancers are Kaposi sarcoma, certain lymphomas and cervical cancer. (Internal Medicine (MBIM 4100) main exam, Paper One: 3 July 2019)
- Think local: sepsis, malaria, HIV-related kidney disease, herbal remedies and obstruction from schistosomiasis or cervical cancer are common causes where resources are limited. (Acute kidney injury)
- The following are high risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) subtypes with strong association with cervical cancer: (Medical MCQs: Chemical Pathology & Haematology Exam Review)
- HPV infection (the central cause) — types 16 and 18 are high-risk (cervical cancer); types 6 and 11 are low-risk (genital warts) (General Pathology Revision: Cell Injury, Inflammation & Adaptation (MBPA 3500 Pa)
- Cervical cancer, not breast, has the highest cancer mortality in Kenya; cardiovascular disease/infections still outrank cancer as overall leading cause of death; cervical/prostate incidence in Kenya is actually above global averages.* (Oncopathology MCQs: Test Your Knowledge on Cancer Pathology)
- Is a slow but inevitable/irreversible progression to cervical cancer (General Pathology MCQs: Fixatives, FNA, Endocrine & ARDS)
Study material on Cervical Cancer
- EXAM: Bacteriophages, Laboratory Diagnosis, HPV & Parvovirus B19
- Year 4 Gynaecology CAT (MBOG 4212): 15 March 2019, 39 of 40 MCQs
- Female Reproductive Pathology: HPV, Cancer, PCOS & Pregnancy
- Year 4 Gynaecology CAT 2 (MBOG 4212): 8 October 2021
- CRASH COURSE PART 3 CHEMICAL PATHO
- EXAM: Spot/Practical Examination
- Molecular Basis of Cancer: Cell Cycle, Apoptosis & Angiogenesis
- General Pathology Q&A
Practice questions on Cervical Cancer
The following are high risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) subtypes with strong association with cervical cancer:
- 6 and 11
- 16 and 18
- Types 1-180
- 3, 10, 28, and 49
- 1, 2, 4, and 7 ✅ Answer: B
Answer: A. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for the majority of cervical cancers.
Which virus is most strongly associated with cervical cancer?
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Human papilloma virus
Answer: D. HPV, particularly high-risk types 16 and 18, is the causative agent of virtually all cervical cancers. HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 inactivate tumor suppressors p53 and Rb respectively, driving malignant transformation. ---
A 55-year-old woman presents with vaginal bleeding. Imaging shows a tumour arising from the cervix and invading surrounding tissue. Which histologic type is most common? The majority of cervical cancers are squamous cell. ---
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Small cell carcinoma
- Clear cell carcinoma
- Sarcoma
Answer: B.