Pathology of the ovary and fallopian tube Flashcards
Describe a normal fallopian tube
- Tubular structure with a muscular wall
- Covered by a peritoneum
- Has a fimbrial end with finger like projections
- the epithelium covering the fimbrae is in continuity with the lining of the tube
Describe the internal aspect of the Fallopian tube (microscopically)
It has a complex arrangement of plical folds which are covered by serous epithelium which contains cuboidal cells with cilia and secretory cells
Where are the ova in the ovaries?
In the peripheral cortex in the follicles
What is seen in the ovaries during menstruation?
- Corpus lutea
* corpus albicantes
What remains in the ovaries in post menopausal women?
Corpora albicantes
What is contained in the central medulla in the ovaries?
Stroma, blood vessels and sometimes leydig cells
What is contained in the stroma in the ovaries?
Spindle shaped cells and collagen fibres
What forms the peritoneal lining in the ovaries?
Mesothelial cells
Atretic follicles
Kind of look like blank spaces under the microscope, they are what remains when the follicle has broken down
Where do germ cells originate from?
The yolk sac
What happens to the germ cells by week 5-6 of gestation?
They migrate to the urogenital ridge and become embedded into the epithelium and stroma of the ovary which form from the ridge
What happens at around week 6 of gestation?
Invagination and fusion of the coelomic epithelium forming two laterally. located mullerian ducts that grow downwards into the pelvis
Which embryological structure forms the Fallopian tubes?
The unfused portions of the mullerian ducts
What does the fused potion of the mullerian ducts and urogenital sinus become?
the uterus and vagina
What are the non neoplastic ovarian cysts?
- Follicular cysts
- Luteal cysts
- Inclusion cysts
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Describe polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Common, approx 1 in 5
- Ovaries contain a large number of follicular cysts, may of which lack a central oocyte
- Patients have irregular periods (often anovulatory) and androgen excess which can result in hirsutism, acne and weight gain
- Can result in fertility problems
What is ovarian stromal hyperplasia?
A benign condition resulting in uniform enlargement of the ovary. There will be ill defined white/yellow node;es macroscopically, microscopically there is replacement of the cortex and medulla by nodules of ovarian stroma
What is the difference between ovarian stromal hyperplasia and stromal hyperthecosis?
In ovarian stromal hyperplasia there are no luteinised cells present, in stromal hyperthecosis there are
What is salpingitis?
Inflammation of the Fallopian tubes
What is the underlying cause of salpingitis
- usually sexually transmitted chlamydia trachomatis or neisseria gonorrhoea which enters the gynaecological tract via the vagina and initially causes cervical inflammation. Ascending infection then causes salpingitis
- TB is an uncommon cause
What is the normal presentation of pelvic inflammatory disease?
- Abdominal/pelvic pain
- Adnexal tenderness
- Fever
- Vaginal discharge
How is pelvic inflammatory disease treated?
Antibiotics