Carcinoma in situ of the vagina following treatment for carcinoma of the cervix: a distinctive clinical entity.

A series of 10 patients who presented with carcinoma in situ of the vagina following treatment for carcinoma of the cervix were seen in a 3 year period and their clinical and histologic features reviewed. Vaginal lesions developed 1 to 22 years after diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix was made. In three patients the vaginal lesions progressed to invasion. In the remaining patients repeated biopsies have revealed persistent carcinoma in situ. From this series of 10 patients we conclude that the biologic behavior of vaginal carcinoma in situ following carcinoma of the cervix resembles that of carcinoma in situ of the cervix and that carcinoma of the vagina following carcinoma of the cervix should be considered a separate clinical entity distinctive from primary invasive carcinoma of the vagina.