Gynaecology Flashcards
Migraine with aura excludes what contraceptive?
COCP
What is the Mx for stress incontinence?
Pelvic floor exercises for 3mths
What is the Mx for urge incontinence?
Bladder retraining for
What are the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy?
- Previous ectopics
- STI
- Delayed conception
What are the contraindications to oestrogen based contraception?
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Migraine with aura
- Thromboembolism
- Age
What are some features of PCOS?
Oligomenorrhoea
Hirsutism
Excess weight
Acne
How long is the normal uterus?
9cm in length
In who is a endometrial biopsy indicated?
Indicated for women > 45 with menstrual symptoms (HMB and PCB) after confirming that the women is NOT pregnant
Up until what week do the gonads remain sexually indifferent?
7th week
What reaction helps virilise the external genitalia in males?
Conversion of testosterone to DHT
by alpha-reductase
What are the two types of cells in testes? What hormones do they make and why?
Sertoli cells - make AMH - suppress development of mullerian ducts
Leydig cells - make testosterone - promote development of wolffian ducts to make epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles
What is the structure of a primordial follice?
Ooycyte surrounded by single layer of granulosa cells
By how many weeks are the max no. of primordial follices reached?
20 weeks
Roughly how many follicles remain by birth?
1-2 million
In what stage are the oocytes arrested and until when?
Prophase of first meiotic division until atresia or preceding ovulation
What allows the development of mullerian structures in females?
Absence of AMH
The proximal 2/3 of the vagina develop from the
paired mullerian ducts
What produces the uterus, cervix and upper vagina
fusion of paired mullerian ducts
- unfused caudal segments form the fallopian tubes
The paramesonephric duct later forms what?
Mullerian system = precursor of female genital development
What are bartholin’s glands?
Two pea sized compound alveolar glands located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina - contribute to lubrication during intercourse - can get cysts on them causing their enlargement
Carunculae myrtiformes
remaining tags of the hymen after rupture
What is the vagina lined by?
Stratified squamous epithelium
Before puberty and after menopause, the vagina has no …. and why?
Glycogen, due to lack of stimulation by oestrogen
What breaks down glycogen in the vagina?
Doderlein’s bacillus - breaks down glycogen to form lactic acid, to make low pH
The cardinal ligaments and uterosacral ligaments form
the parametrium
The cornu of the uterus is the
site of insertion of the fallopian tube
In 20% of women, the uterus is tilted
backwards - retroversion and retroflexion
What are the three layers of the uterus?
Peritoneum, myometrium, endometrium
The endometrial layer of the uterus is covered by what
Single layer of columnar epithelium
Describe the epithelium of the cervix
Endocervix is columnar and ciliated in upper two thirds
Transitions to squamous epithelium at squamocolumnar junction
At birth what is the size of the cervix compared to the uterus
Twice length
What are the four parts of fallopian tubes and how long are they?
10cm long Four parts - Fimbriae - Infundibulum - Ampulla - Isthmus
What are the two types of cells in the fallopian tubes?
Ciliated cells - produce a constant current of fluid in direction of the uterus
Secretory cells - contribute to the volume of the tubal fluid
When the corpus luteum undergoes atresia what does it become?
Corpora albicans
How is the muscle of the bladder arranged?
Involuntary muscle
Inner layer -> longitundinal
Middle layer -> circular
Outer -> longitudinal
What is the bladder lined by? What is its average capacity?
Transitional epithelium
400mL
What is the trigone?
The internal meatus of the urethra
What muscles form the pelvic diaphragm?
Levator ani, comprised of:
- Pubococcygeus
- Iliococcygeus
What lung manifestation is common for malignancies?
PE
What is often removed in ovarian cancer?
The omentum
What are the relapse rates for ovarian cancer? What is the 5 year survival rate? What is a big problem of treatment?
70% within 3 years
- Chemo resistance is a big problem
5 year survival rate = 46%
In what 3 settings can chemo be given?
Adjuvant - often given to treat micrometastatic disease we can’t see and reduce chance of cancer coming back
Neo-adjuvant
Palliative
What does bevacizumab target?
VEGF, targets angiogenesis as a treatment for cancer
What role do BRCA1 and BRCA2 play in the cell?
Repair damaged DNA via homogolous recombination
What could cause a rising creatinine in gynae malignancy?
Ureteric obstruction
What are you worried about if a patient develops a fever after chemotherapy?
Neutropenic sepsis
What is the treatment for neutropenic sepsis?
Admit IV Antibiotics (if not allergic) - don't wait until bloods come back, start immediately
What is the most common gynaecological cancer?
Endometrial
What is high grade serous epithelial ovarian carcinoma characterised by?
Psammoma bodies -> concentric rings of calcification
Pseudomyxoma peritoneii characterises what ovarian tumour?
= mucin in the peritoneal cavity
characterises mucinous carcinomas
30% of high-grade pelvic serous cancers have
BRCA mutations
Endometriod ovarian cancer is often found alongside what other cancer?
Endometriod endometrial Ca
Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers are usually what types of epithelial ovarian cancers?
Endometriod
Clear cell
What may be a precursor to high grade pelvic serous carcinoma (ovarian Ca)?
STIC = serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (fallopian tube precursor)
What is Lynch syndrome and what is it associated with?
Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, MLH-1, MLH-2 mutations
Associated with:
- endometrial ca
- ovarian ca
- stomach, small intestine, biliary tract etc
What % of hereditary cancers does BRCA account for?
90%
BRCA 1 = 80%
BRCA 2 = 15%
Differential diagnoses for pelvic mass
- Ovarian tumour (epithelial or non-epithelial)
- Tubo-ovarian abscess
- Endometrioma
- Fibroids
What is the presentation of ovarian Ca?
Often vague and non-specific, can be abdominal fullness/bloating, early satiety, abdo or pelvic pain
In what conditions is CA125 raised?
80% of epithelial ovarian cancers
- pregnancy
- endometriosis
- alcoholic liver disease
In ovarian cancer what is the RMI (risk of malignant index) calculated from and what are the rough ranges for high/low risk?
- Menopausal status
- USS features
- Ca125 level
> 250 high risk
<25 low risk
What staging is used for ovarian cancer?
FIGO 1 - within ovary 2- outside ovary but within pelvis 3- outside ovary but within abdomen 4- mets
What is the main management of ovarian cancer?
Surgery + platinum based chemo eg carboplatin + paclitaxel
What is the most common type of malignant germ cell ovarian tumour?
Dysgerminoma
Mature teratoma is also often called a
dermoid cyst
What is the most common type of benign germ cell ovarian tumour?
Mature teratoma
What ovarian tumour secretes alpha-fetoprotein?
Germ cell tumour: endodermal sinus yolk sac tumour
What is the most common chemo regimen for germ cell tumours?
BEP
- Bleomysin
- Etoposide
- CisPlatin
What is the Mx of germ cell ovarian tumours?
Surgery + Chemo
- fertility sparing treatments may be preferred as patients likely to be younger
- post-op chemo depends on staging: often includes BEP: bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin
How may sertoli-leydig cells present?
They may produce androgens so can present with
- Virilisation
- Amenorrhoea
- Deep voice
They can also produce renin leading to HTN
What can granulosa cell tumours produce which can be helpful in follow-up surveillance?
Inhibin
Which type of sex cord stromal tumour requires long-term follow up?
Granulosa cell as they often recurr
What is the mainstay of treatment for sex cord stromal tumours?
SURGERY
- chemo is not effective
What ovarian tumours usually present with endocrine effects?
Sex cord stromal due to hormone production eg
- Granulosa -> oestrogen
- Sertoli-Leydig -> androgens
What are the two types of ascites?
Transudate: <30g/L protein
Exudate: >30g/L
What are some causes of exudative ascites?
1) Malignant infiltration of peritoneum
2) Pancreatitis
3) Abdominal TB
What are some causes of transudative ascites?
1) Cardiac failure
2) Hypoalbuminaemia
3) Hepatic cirrhosis
4) Myxoedema
5) Renal failure
What is a Krukenberg tumour?
Ovarian metastases (bilateral) from breast/gastric/colonic carcinoma
Meig’s syndrome
TRIAD: Ovarian fibroma causing ascites + pleural effusions
- most are benign + resolve with tumour resection
What cell type are most cervical cancers?
Squamous
What is the most common histological subtype of ovarian carcinoma?
Cystadenocarcinoma
On transvaginal USS when should endometrial biopsy be attempted?
If >4mm thick
Risk factors for endometrial cancer
- Anovulatory cycles that cause unopposed oestrogen exposure
- High BMI/Obese
- Nulliparity
- T2DM
Why may breast cancer patients be at increased risk of endometrial cancer?
If treated with tamoxifen -> anti-oestrogenic in breast, but stimulatory effect in endometrium
What are some causes of post-menopausal bleeding?
- Assume ENDOMETRIAL CANCER unless otherwise ruled out
- Other cancer eg vaginal, vulvulal, cervical or ovarian
- Atrophic vaginitis
- Unscheduled bleeding on HRT
At what site do malignancy and premalignancies develop in the cervix?
Transformation zone - ie the area between the original SCJ and the new SCJ
If CIN 2 or higher is seen on cervical smear, what do you do?
Urgent colposcopy
If a low grade neoplasia is seen on colposcopy what do you do?
Repeat colposcopy + cytology in 6 months
If a high grade neoplasia is seen on colposcopy what do you do?
See and treat
What stains are used in colposcopy and what do they show?
Acetic acid - cells of increased turnover stain white
Iodine - stains brown for intracytoplasmic glycogen stores - neoplastic cells LACK these so they do NOT stain brown
What are the risks of loop diathermy eg LLETZ?
Midtrimester miscarriage
Preterm delivery
What are the risks of cone biopsy?
Cervical stenosis
Cervical incompetence
What is given prophylactically to chemo patients at risk of neutropenic sepsis?
GCSF
If hypercalcaemia is noted in a cancer patient, what medication review should you do?
Stop thiazides and Ca supplements
- Consider starting bisphosphonates
What are the side effects of bisphosphonates?
- Bone and joint pain
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Nausea
- Transient flu like symptoms
Rarely
- osteonecrosis of jaw
- acute renal failure
What is the standard operation for stage 1B tumours in cervical cancer?
Wertheim’s hysterectomy = radical hysterectomy + pelvic node disssection
What is Wertheim’s hysterectomy?
Radical hysterectomy + pelvic node dissection (obturator, external, internal iliac nodes)
If a patient has early stage cervical cancer and wants to have children in the future, what treatment can be given?
Fertility sparing treatment Radical trachelectomy (removal of cervix and upper vagina) and pelvic node dissection
What are the risks/SEs of wertheim’s hysterectomy / radical trachelectomy procedure?
- Bladder incontinence (common in post-op period)
- Sexual dysfunction (due to vaginal shortening)
- Lymphoedema (due to pelvic node removal)
What procedure should be done regarding the lymph nodes in vulvulal cancer?
Spread via inguinofemoral lymph nodes so
full inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for all tumours >1mm depth
What cells synthesise and release FSH and LH in the anterior pituitary gland?
Basophil cells
What causes the periovulatory LH surge?
High levels of oestrogen in late follicular phase
What does the COCP do to oestrogen levels and what impact does this have on LH?
Maintains oestrogen levels within the negative feedback range - prevents LH surge
What effect does progesterone have on LH and FSH levels?
Low progesterone stimulates LH and FSH release from basophil cells in anterior pituitary
High progesterone prevents LH and FSH release
What are the four “general” phases of menstrual cycle?
Menstruation
Follicular phase
Ovulation
Luteal phase
What are the three phases the ovary goes through in the menstrual cycle?
Follicular
Ovulation
Luteal
If LH and FSH are absent, what happens to follicular development?
Will fail at the preantral phase and follicular atresia occurs
Why should women wanting to get pregnant avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen?
These are prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors. Prostaglandins help influence the breakdown of the follicular wall and subsequent ovulation.
Why is haemostasis different to usual in the endometrium?
It does NOT involve clot formation and fibrosis
How does the process of aromatisation work within the follicles and what does it require?
Thecal cells convert cholesterol to androgens under the influence of LH
Granulosa cells under the influence of FSH convert these androgens (from thecal cells) into oestrogens via the process of aromatisation
What does rasburicase do and why is it given with chemotherapy?
Decrease production and urinary excretion of uric acid, by converting it to allantoin. Helps prevent tumour lysis syndrome
What two hormones are secreted by granulosa cells and what impact do they have on FSH release?
Inhibin - downregulates FSH release and enhances androgen synthesis
Activin (nb: also released by pituitary cells)- upregulates FSH binding on follicles
By the end of the follicular phase, the dominant follicle will be of what diameter?
20mm
What causes progesterone levels to rise in the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle?
LH-induced luteinisation of granulosa cells in the dominant follicle
What causes the resumption of meiosis in the ovum?
LH surge
What cellular mediators influence the physical ovulation?
Prostaglandins
Proteolytic enzymes
LH
FSH
What makes up the corpus luteum?
Remaining granulosa and thecal cells after release of the oocyte
How long does the luteal phase last?
14 days
What cellular change occurs at the beginning of the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle?
Single layer of columnar cells become pseudostratified epithelium
What are the three layers of the uterus immediately before menstruation occurs?
Stratum compactum
Stratum spongiosum
Basalis
What are some cellular mediators involved in menstruation?
Prostaglandins, endothelins, platelet activating factor, prostacyclin, nitric oxide
What is amenorrhoea?
Absence of menstruation for more than 6 months in the absence of pregnancy in a woman of fertile age
What is oligomenorrhoea?
Irregular periods at intervals of more than 35 days, with only 4-9 periods per year
What is Premature ovarian failure?
Cessation of periods <40yrs of age
Define Primary Amenorrhoea
when a girl fails to menstruate by 16 years of age
Define secondary amenorrhoea
Absence of menstruation for > 6 months in a normal female of reproductive age that is not due to pregnancy, lactation or menopause
What is PCOS associated with?
T2DM
Cardiovascular events
What drug can be given to women with PCOS who are having fertility issues?
Clomiphene -> SERM
What criteria is used for PCOS?
Rotterdam consensus criteria
- Oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea
- Polycystic ovaries
- Clinical or biochemical androgenism
Management of PCOS
- COCP
- Cyclic progesterone
- Clomiphene
- Lifestyle advice + weight loss advice
- Ovarian drilling
- Tx of androgenism: COCP, co-cyprindiol
What does a “pearl necklace” sign indicate on TVUSS?
PCOS
What endocrine condition should be potentially checked for in PCOS?
Diabetes OGTT @ diagnosis for – BMI >25 – Non-Caucasian ethnicity – Any BMI + >40yo, FHx, DM, GDM (gestational diabetes) hx Annual OGTT for – IFG (fasting 6.1-6.9mmol/L) – IGT (OGTT 7.8-11.1mmol/L)
NB: also check for CVD health ie cholesterol, BP etc
What endocrine condition can be associated with premature ovarian failure?
Addison’s disease
- steroid cell autoAbs can cross react with thecal and granulosa cells
What hormone marks premature ovarian failure?
High FSH, 2 results >30 taken 4-6wks apart
What three things are needed to diagnose premature ovarian failure?
- Raised FSH >30 on two occasions 4-6wks apart
- Menopausal symptoms
- <40YO
What are the signs and symptoms of asherman’s syndrome?
Amenorrhoea
Cyclical abdo pain
Subfertility