An introduction to gynecologic pathology
Gynecologic pathology is a big part of surgical pathology. Radiologists have a lot of trouble in this area. On CT it is not infrequently hard to pick-out the ovaries... and it is a reason they don't comment on 'em. The ovary is affected by a huge number of tumours.
Site specific
Vulva
This covers the topic of vulva.
Vagina
This covers the topic of vagina.
Cervix
The most common type of cervical cancer is: squamous cell carcinoma.
Common benign cause of bleeding.
Gynecologic cytology is mostly cervical cytology and cervical cytology is the biggest part of cytology.
Ovary
The ovary has a wealth of pathology. It has benign tumours and malignant ones. The ovary article covers cysts of the ovary.
Uterine tube (Fallopian tube)
This was ignored in the past... current thinking is that it may be the real culprit in what is often labeled as "ovarian cancer".[1]
Uterus
The article covers uterine leiomyomas, uterine carcinosarcomas and endometrial stromal tumours.
Endometrium
Addresses dating of the endometrium.
Endometrial hyperplasia is considered the precursor of carcinoma.
A look at endometrial carcinoma.
Specific entities
Endometriosis
A common non-malignant affliction that causes infertility and morbidity.
Peritoneal inclusion cyst
- AKA benign multicystic mesothelioma.[2]
- Should not be confused with malignant mesothelioma.
- AKA inflammatory cyst of the peritoneum.
- AKA mesothelial inclusion cyst. (???)
General
- Usu. conservative management.
- Serum CA-125 usu. low.
- May occur in men.[3]
Microscopic
- Thin-walled, irregular-shaped, cysts - unicystic or multicystic.
- Mesothelial lining.
- Eosinophilic fluid.
Image:
Endosalpingiosis
General
- Benign entity that may lead to a misdiagnosis of adenocarcinoma[5] or serous carcinoma.
- The clinical significance of endosalpingiosis is not definitively settled; opinions differ on whether it is:
Microscopic
Features:[8]
- Cystic lesions with:
- Ciliated (tubal type) epithelium, without endometrial stroma.
- Endosalpingiosis is surrounded by fibrous stroma; tubal type epithelial surrounded by ovarian stroma is a variant of endometriosis.
- Ciliated (tubal type) epithelium, without endometrial stroma.
- Associated with psammoma bodies.[9]
DDx:[10]
- Serous carcinoma.
- Peritoneal inclusion cyst.
Notes:
- Not associated with hemorrhage.[11]
- In a lymph node, endosalpingiosis may be misinterpreted as a metastasis![12]
Images:
- Endosalpingiosis - low mag. (WC).
- Endosalpingiosis - high mag. (WC).
- Endosalpingiosis - very high mag. (WC).
- Endosalpingiosis in a LN - intermed. mag. (WC).
- Endosalpingiosis in a LN - very high mag. (WC).
Wolffian adnexal tumour
General
- Super rare.
- Adnexal - as the name suggests.
- Usu. benign.[13]
Microscopic
Features:
- Tubular/glandular spaces.
DDx:
Introduction to gynecologic tumours
Where to start when considering a malignant (epithelial) tumour of the gynecologic tract:
Serous | Endometrioid | Mucinous | |
Characteristics | cilia, columnar cells psammoma bodies, papillary arch. |
gland forming, endometrium-like | mucinous glands, colon-like |
Differentiators | cilia, psammoma bodies | squamous metaplasia | mucin, lack of necrosis |
Associations | atrophy | endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia | (?) |
Typical age | usually 60s+ | 40-60 | varies (?) |
Grade | typically high grade | typically low grade | often low |
IHC | p53+ diffuse, WT-1 +ve, D2-40 +ve, CA-125 +ve | WT-1 -ve | CK7 +ve, CK20 +ve (others CK7 +ve, CK20 -ve) |
Main DDx | poorly diff. endometrioid | serous | metastatic tumour (usually GI) |
Benign stuff
Where to start when it looks benign:
Morphology | Nucleus | Cytoplasm | Tumour | Other | Image | |
Hilus cells | well-defined cell borders, solid | eccentric, mild pleomorphism | eosinophilic | Hilus cell tumour | absent in childhood | Need one |
Mesonephric remnant (aka Wolffian duct) | cuboidal, glands/lumen present | ovoid, small | eosinophilic | ? | Develops into vas deferens in males. | mesonephric r., cat (uoguelph.ca) |
Walthard cell rest | cuboidal, nested, solid | "coffee bean" shape | eosionphilic | Brenner tumour | nil | Coffee bean n. (WC), WCR (WC) |
Hilus cell
General
Features:[14]
- Present in embryo.
- Absent in childhood.
- Reappear at puberty.
- Common in post-menopausal women.
Associated pathology:
Microscopic
Features:[15]
- Similar to Leydig cells:
- Typically found in small clusters.
- Eosinophilic cytoplasm.
- Round nucleus +/- nucleolus.
Images:
Mesonephric remnant
General
Epidemiology:
- Embryological remnant - benign.
- aka Wolffian duct - precursor of male reproductive tract.[16]
Microscopic
Features:[17]
- Cuboidal cells in glands/tubules - may surround cleft.
DDx:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Mesonephric remnant has no cellular atypia
Image: [1]
Walthard cell rest
General
- AKA Walthard cell nest.
- Benign.
Epidemiology
- Thought to be related to Brenner tumour.
Microscopic
Features:[18]
- Collection of eosinophilic (i.e. pink) cuboidal cells; usually solid, may be cystic.
- Elliptical nucleus with single groove along major axis; "coffee bean" nucleus -- key feature.
Location:
- Usually in soft tissue of the uterine tube.
Images:
Paraurethral cyst
Luteinized follicular cyst
Features:[19]
- Stratified cuboidal/columnar epithelium-like cells with:
- Small nuclei and small nucleoli.
- Cytoplasm may be eosinophilic.
- Sit on spindled cells (theca interna) that is luteinized.
Image: Luteinized follicular cyst (WC).
Other
Pregnancy
Chorionic villi are the minimum needed to diagnose pregnancy histologically.
When reproduction goes wrong.
A big endocrine organ that gets completely ignored by almost everyone.
See also
References
- ↑ Hirst, JE.; Gard, GB.; McIllroy, K.; Nevell, D.; Field, M. (Jul 2009). "High rates of occult fallopian tube cancer diagnosed at prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.". Int J Gynecol Cancer 19 (5): 826-9. doi:10.1111/IGC.0b013e3181a1b5dc. PMID 19574767.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vallerie, AM.; Lerner, JP.; Wright, JD.; Baxi, LV. (May 2009). "Peritoneal inclusion cysts: a review.". Obstet Gynecol Surv 64 (5): 321-34. doi:10.1097/OGX.0b013e31819f93d4. PMID 19386139.
- ↑ Cavallaro, A.; Murazio, M.; Modugno, P.; Vona, A.; Revelli, L.; Potenza, AE.; Colli, R.. "Benign multicystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum: a case report.". Chir Ital 54 (4): 569-72. PMID 12239771.
- ↑ Levy, AD.; Arnáiz, J.; Shaw, JC.; Sobin, LH.. "From the archives of the AFIP: primary peritoneal tumors: imaging features with pathologic correlation.". Radiographics 28 (2): 583-607; quiz 621-2. doi:10.1148/rg.282075175. PMID 18349460.
- ↑ Lin O (May 2009). "Challenges in the interpretation of peritoneal cytologic specimens". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 133 (5): 739–42. PMID 19415948.
- ↑ deHoop, TA.; Mira, J.; Thomas, MA. (Oct 1997). "Endosalpingiosis and chronic pelvic pain.". J Reprod Med 42 (10): 613-6. PMID 9350013.
- ↑ Heinig, J.; Gottschalk, I.; Cirkel, U.; Diallo, R. (Jun 2002). "Endosalpingiosis-an underestimated cause of chronic pelvic pain or an accidental finding? A retrospective study of 16 cases.". Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 103 (1): 75-8. PMID 12039470.
- ↑ URL: http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/29/2/347.full. Accessed on: 27 May 2010.
- ↑ Hallman KB, Nahhas WA, Connelly PJ (September 1991). "Endosalpingiosis as a source of psammoma bodies in a Papanicolaou smear. A case report". J Reprod Med 36 (9): 675–8. PMID 1774734.
- ↑ Rosenberg, P.; Nappi, L.; Santoro, A.; Bufo, P.; Greco, P. (Mar 2011). "Pelvic mass-like florid cystic endosalpingiosis of the uterus: a case report and a review of literature.". Arch Gynecol Obstet 283 (3): 519-23. doi:10.1007/s00404-010-1700-1. PMID 20931212.
- ↑ URL: http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/29/2/347.full. Accessed on: 27 May 2010.
- ↑ Corben, AD.; Nehhozina, T.; Garg, K.; Vallejo, CE.; Brogi, E. (Aug 2010). "Endosalpingiosis in axillary lymph nodes: a possible pitfall in the staging of patients with breast carcinoma.". Am J Surg Pathol 34 (8): 1211-6. doi:10.1097/PAS.0b013e3181e5e03e. PMID 20631604.
- ↑ URL: http://www.pathconsultddx.com/pathCon/diagnosis?pii=S1559-8675%2806%2970577-0. Accessed on: 29 April 2011.
- ↑ Sternberg, Stephen S. (1997). Histology for Pathologists (2nd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 953. ISBN 978-0397517183.
- ↑ URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case394/dx.html. Accessed on: 16 January 2012.
- ↑ Hannema SE, Print CG, Charnock-Jones DS, Coleman N, Hughes IA (2006). "Changes in gene expression during Wolffian duct development". Horm. Res. 65 (4): 200–9. doi:10.1159/000092408. PMID 16567946.
- ↑ Sternberg SE. Histology for Pathologists. 2nd Ed. P.893.
- ↑ Nucci, Marisa R.; Oliva, Esther (2009). Gynecologic Pathology: A Volume in Foundations in Diagnostic Pathology Series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 332. ISBN 978-0443069208.
- ↑ URL: http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/path/gyn/ovary2.cfm. Accessed on: 20 May 2010.