BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have up to a 3-fold risk of site-specific secondary cancers. The only exception is a lower incidence of cervical cancer in this population. CASE: A 70-year-old, white woman with stage IV CLL was diagnosed 2 years prior to presentation with stage Ia1 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Following an abnormal Pap smear, a colposcopy and biopsies were performed. Initial pathologic impression of the cervical biopsies was high grade dysplasia. The final review was consistent with CLL without cervical dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Cervical cancer in patients with CLL is a rare occurrence. The pathologic changes on cervical epithelium caused by CLL can mimic dysplastic cellular changes. Expert pathologic review of cervical biopsies is warranted to distinguish between the diagnoses, thus altering management.
BACKGROUND:Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have up to a 3-fold risk of site-specific secondary cancers. The only exception is a lower incidence of cervical cancer in this population. CASE: A 70-year-old, white woman with stage IV CLL was diagnosed 2 years prior to presentation with stage Ia1 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Following an abnormal Pap smear, a colposcopy and biopsies were performed. Initial pathologic impression of the cervical biopsies was high grade dysplasia. The final review was consistent with CLL without cervical dysplasia. CONCLUSION:Cervical cancer in patients with CLL is a rare occurrence. The pathologic changes on cervical epithelium caused by CLL can mimic dysplastic cellular changes. Expert pathologic review of cervical biopsies is warranted to distinguish between the diagnoses, thus altering management.