A study of the value and prognostic significance of mucin staining in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Abstract

One hundred and eighty-one cases of squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which had been retrieved from the archives of Aberdeen Royal Hospital, from 1974 to 1988, were stained with periodic acid-Schiff following diastase and alcian blue to ascertain the value and prognostic significance of demonstrating the presence of mucin. Each case was typed and graded on a representative haematoxylin and eosin section, while the age at diagnosis, stage and survival (within a minimum five year follow-up) was obtained from examination of hospital case notes and death certificates. The data was analysed by Cox regression which revealed that the demonstration of mucin, either by both stains or only one method, had no bearing on prognosis. On this basis, it is concluded that routine mucin staining of squamous carcinomas of the uterine cervix is not justified.