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.
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.
Endometrium
Addresses dating of the endometrium.
Endometrial hyperplasia is considered the precursor of carcinoma.
A look at endometrial carcinoma.
A common non-malignant affliction that causes infertility and morbidity.
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
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.
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
Ref: Sternberg H4P.[2]
Epidemiology
- Present in embryo.
- Absent in childhood.
- Reappear at puberty.
- Common in post-menopausal women.
Micro.
- Well-defined cell borders/spaced.
- Eosinophilic cytoplasm.
- Prominent nucleus.
- In small clumps.
- Similar to Leydig cells.
Pathology
Mesonephric remnant
Epidemiology
- Embryological remnant - benign.
- aka Wolffian duct - precursor of male reproductive tract.[3]
Micro
- Cuboidal cells in glands/tubules - may surround cleft.[4]
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:[5]
- 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:
Luteinized follicular cyst
Features:[6]
- 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).
Endosalpingiosis
General
- Benign entity that may lead to a misdiagnosis of serous carcinoma.
Microscopic
Features:[7]
- 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.[8]
Notes:
- Not associated with hemorrhage.[9]
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.
- ↑ Sternberg SE. Histology for Pathologists. 2nd Ed. P.953.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ URL: http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/29/2/347.full. Accessed on: 27 May 2010.