High tumor cell dissociation (spray like pattern of invasion) is associated with poor prognosis in carcinoma of the cervix uteri

Purpose: Defined morphologic features of infiltration patterns of carcinomas represent different degrees in tumor cell dissociation. Methods: Histologic slides of 603 cases of surgically treated cervical carcinoma (CX) were re-examined regarding PI. PI was defined as spray-like, representing a high tumor cell dissociation with single cells or small groups of infiltrative cancer cells. A fingerlike PI was characterised as a growth of cohesive solid tumor cell-clusters, representing a moderate tumor cell dissociation. A close PI represented a smooth border between the tumor cells and cervical stroma. The PI was co…