Pure Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix A A Fig. 1. MRI findings in this patient. (A) T2 weighted image (B) T2 weighted image using an endorectal coil. The white arrow indicates a 2.0×1.6 cm cervical mass, comparable with cervical cancer. Fig. 2. Histopathologic findings. The tumor is mainly composed of immature basaloid squamous cells with scanty cytoplasm and periph- eral palisading (arrow). Keratinization foci are seen in the center of the nests (arrowhead). Both tumor components show p63 immunoposi- tivity (A: H&E, ×200; B: p63, ×200). clear. No adjuvant treatment was administered, and the pa- tient was discharged. In the 12 months since discharge, she has shown no evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease. Fol- low-up is ongoing at Asan Medical Center. Pathologic findings A well-defined, fungating firm mass (1.5×1.0×0.6 cm) was present in the posterior wall of the cervix and invaded 5 mm into the cervical wall (full thickness, 7 mm). The parame- tria and vaginal cuff showed no tumor invasion. The cut sur- face of the mass was gray and granular. The tumor cells were immunopositive for p63 and immunonegative for S-100 pro- tein. The cells appeared basaloid with small hyperchromatic nuclei, distinct nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm. There was also peripheral palisading, supporting the above diagnosis (Fig. 2). DISCUSSION Cervical basaloid carcinoma has recently been classified as a specific histologic subtype, with “pure” basaloid carcinomas being extremely rare (14). Often few incidence of this diag- nosis can cause clinical and pathological misinterpretation. In our case, based on a punch biopsy specimen, our patient was initially diagnosed at the local hospital with adenoid cys- 543 B B