Pathology of Cervix, Vulva and Vagina Flashcards
What is the ectocervix? What epithelium is it composed of?
Vaginal portion of the cervix, seen on internal examination
What is the endocervix?
Lowermost portion of the uterus
Describe the lining of the ectocervix
Non-keratinising stratified squamous epithelium with basal and parabasal cells
Describe the lining of the endocervix
Simple columnar epithelium that secretes mucous via cilia
What is the transformation zone? What happens to the position of this zone?
Squamocolumnar junction between ectocervical and endocervical epithelia
Alters during menarche, pregnancy and menopause
What is the clinical significance of the transformation zone?
Most common place on the cervix for abnormal cells to develop
How does cervical erosion occur?
Exposure of delicate endocervical epithelium to acid environment of vagina leads to physiological squamous metaplasia
How are Nabothian follicles formed?
When stratified squamous epithelium of the ectocervix grows over the simple columnar epithelium of the endocervix
State the two main types of pathology of the cervix and give examples
Inflammatory (cervicitis, polyp)
Neoplastic (CIN, squamous or adenocarcinoma)
What is cervicitis?
Non-specific acute or chronic inflammation resulting in subepithelial reactive lymphoid follicles in the cervix
How can cervicitis cause infertility in the long-term?
Simultaneous silent fallopian tube damage
What are the most common causes of cervicitis?
Commonly, a sexually-transmitted infection
Chlamydia trachomatis
Herpes simplex virus
Cervical polpys are premalignant. True/ False?
False
What is a cervical polyp? How do they present?
Localised inflammatory outgrowth
Bleeding if ulcerated
List risk factors for neoplastic changes of the cervix
Persistence of HPV (many sexual partners)
Vulnerability of SCJ (age of 1st intercourse, use of oral contraceptives, avoidance of barrier contraceptives)
Smoking
Immunosuppression
List the main presentations of HPV, in order of risk
Genital warts
Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia
Cervical cancer
What types of HPV are associated with genital and vulvar warts?
Type 6
Type 11
What types of HPV are associated with cervical neoplasia?
Type 16
Type 18
Describe the pathological appearance of genital warts
Thickened papillomatous squamous epithelium Cytoplasmic vacuolation (koilocytosis)
Describe the pathological appearance of CIN
Infected flat epithelium
Signs of koilocytosis
Outline the timeline of progression of HPV to cervical cancer
HPV –> CIN: 6 months to 3 years
CIN –> cervical cancer: 5-20 years
What is the main risk factor for progression of HIV to cervical cancer?
Persistant exposure to HPV infection
What is cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia?
A preinvasive stage of cervical cancer occuring at transformation zone which involves dysplasia of squamous cells
How is CIN typically detected?
Asymptomatic
Detected by cervical screening