Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm of the uterine cervix: an unusual tumor in an unusual location

A 46-year-old woman presented for a second opinion regarding a 3-4 cm mass of the uterine cervix. A prior biopsy had been interpreted as a malignant melanoma of the cervix, resulting in a radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This was to be followed by external beam irradiation and immunotherapy; however, given the rarity of this diagnosis, the patient sought a second opinion at our institution. Further review of the pathological material from the hysterectomy revealed a morphologically benign perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm rather than a malignant melanoma. Close monitoring of the patient was recommended; she is currently disease-free more than three years after her initial presentation.