2: Cervical screening and vulval pathology Flashcards
Which type of epithelium lines the vaginal end of the cervix?
Squamous epithelium
What is the vaginal end of the cervix called?
Ectocervix
What is the uterine end of the cervix called?
Endocervix
Which type of epithelium is found in the endocervix?
Columnar, glandular epithelium
What is the transformation zone of the cervix?
Transition between squamous (vaginal end; ectocervical) and columnar (uterine end; endocervical) epithelium
Where does cervical cancer arise?
Squamo-columnar junction / Transformation zone
What causes the squamo-columnar junction to rise?
Menarche
Pregnancy
Menopause
The vagina is an (acidic / alkaline) environment.
acidic
What process occurs when the endocervix is opposed to the acid of the vagina?
Squamous metaplasia
Inflammation causes columnar epithelium to change into squamous epithelium
What is cervicitis?
Inflammation of the cervix
Which sexually transmitted infection, causing cervicitis, can lead to infertility?
Chlamydia
What is a cervical polyp?
Abnormal inflammatory growth in the cervix
Are cervical polyps malignant?
No
And most don’t become malignant
What is CIN?
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Precursor to cervical cancer
What are the two most common forms of cervical cancer?
Squamous carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Which specific viruses are associated with a percentage of cervical cancers?
HPV 16
HPV 18
Which percentage of cervical cancers are caused by HPV 16 & 18?
70 - 75%
This means that 25 - 30% aren’t and you have to stay vigilant
What are risk factors for cervical cancer?
HPV infection (particularly 16 and 18)
Long-term oral contraceptive use
Smoking (big one)
Immunosuppression
What is a sign of HPV infection on histology?
Koilocytosis
Dyskaryosis (nuclear abnormalities) in an epithelial cell, giving them a HALO appearance