Cervical tumor cells can invade the lymphatic system and spread to the lymph nodes in the pelvic wall. Eventually they may spread to the iliac lymph nodes higher in the pelvis, the aortic lymph nodes, the nodes above the collarbone and occasionally to the groin nodes.
Metastases can also spread through the bloodstream to the outer vagina, vulva, lungs, liver and brain. Invasion of the pelvic nerves is common in advanced cases. There may also be spread within the abdomen when the tumor penetrates the full thickness of the cervix .
What Causes It There is much evidence that cervical carcinoma is venereal in origin. Most researchers believe that the human papilloma virus is either the cause or a strong cofactor in the development of pre-invasive and invasive carcinomas of the cervix, as well as pre-invasive and invasive squamous cell cancer of the vagina and vulva. Ninety to 95 percent of cervical cancers contain human papilloma virus DNA.
The virus is a sexually transmitted disease. There are more than 50 types of human papilloma virus (HPV) that infect humans. Types 6 and 11 usually cause warts, while types 16,18, 31 and 33 usually result in high-grade SIL (CIN-2 and 3) and carcinomas. The virus infects the tissues of the lower genital tract and may produce obvious genital warts or mild, moderate or severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ . Genital warts are associated with cervical, vaginal and vulvar dysplasia and invasive carcinoma in about 25 percent of cases.
