Pathology of the Vulva, Vagina, and Cervix Flashcards
1
Q
Cervix Histology
- Exocervix
- Endocervix
- Where do they meet?
- What happens to where they meet over time?
- Define Endocervical Canal
A
- covered by stratified non-keratinizing squamous epithelium
- covered by columnar, mucus secreting epithelium
- Squamocolumnar junction
- junction moves, moves out to ectropion in young adult, regresses in adults
- connects the internal and external Os
2
Q
Cervix- Transformation Zone
- Define
- What happens here most often?
A
- endocervical canal that immediately follows the squamo-columnar junction; columnar cells replaced by squamous epithelium (squamous surface w/ underlying glandular cells)
- most cervical dysplasias arise in this zone
3
Q
Cervical Squamous Epithelium
- Four layers
- What causes the squamous cells to mature? how?
- Describe maturation process
- What creates the acidic environment in the vagina?
A
- Superficial Squamous cells, Intermediate Squamous cells, Parabasal cells, Basal cells
- estrogen causes them to take up glycogen
- cells move from basal to upper layer, become superficial cells and shed
- Shed cells release glycogen which is used by vaginal flora to grow and produces the drop in pH
4
Q
Histo on Smear
- Superficial Squamous cells
- Intermediate cells
- Metaplastic Cells
A
- smal, pyknotic nuclei
- larger nucleus
- roughly same size nucleus as intermediate cells, but smaller cytoplasm
5
Q
Cervicitis
- What is non-significant inflammation?
- What is significant inflammation caused by?
- What are complications of significant inflamm?
- What is the morphology of significant inflamm?
A
- mild chronic cervical inflammation
- organisms (gonococci, chlamydiae, mycoplasmas, Herpes viruses)
- complciations arise in pregnancy/labor; sexual transmission
- surface erosion, neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltrates, and reactive or reparative epithelial changes
6
Q
Smear
- What is seen in acute cervicitis?
- Herpes cervicitis?
- Bacterial vaginitis
A
- inflammatory cells
- infected cells are multinucleated
- epithelial cell covered by numerous bacteria
7
Q
Cytology (pap smear)
- Define
- What does it screen for?
- What does it detect?
A
- microscopic examination of cells scraped from cervical mucosa
- mainly for squamous cell lesion
- treatable precursor lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN); prevents and makes early diagnosis of cervical cancer
8
Q
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) and Cervical Carcinoma
- Associated with what infection?
- Risk factors (7)
A
- HPV
- Depends on both host and virus characteristics;
Early age at 1st intercourse
Multiple sexual partners
Increased parity
Male partner with multiple previous partners
High-risk HPV types and persistent detection of high risk HPV types*
Oral contraceptives and nicotine
Genital infections (chlamydia)
9
Q
Classification of Cervical Squamous Dysplasia
- Where do they arise most frequently?
- 2 types/ 3 grades
- What is condyloma accuminatum? Associated with what?
A
- both CIN and cervical cancer: transformation zone
- Low grade dysplasia: mild (CIN 1)
- High grade dysplasia moderate (CIN 2) and severe dysplasia (CIN 3)
- low grade dysplasia; always assoc w/ low risk HPV types
10
Q
HPV types
- based on
- Low risk types (2); associated with what?
- High risk types (2); what do these do?
A
- DNA sequences and subgroups
- 6,11; associated w/ condylomas, usually regress; rarely persist
- 16,18; regress or persist or progress to precancerous lesions
11
Q
Gross Morphology of Cervix Dysplasia in Colposcopic Examination
- Condyloma
- CIN I
- CIN II/III
A
- acetowhite plaques on cervix
- punctuations on cervix
- mosaic pattern on the cervix
12
Q
Koilocytes
- Define
- Morphologic features (4)
A
- squamous cells infected by HPV
- nuclear enlargement, irregularity of nuclear membrane contour, hyperchromasia, clear halo around the nucleus (perinuclear halo)
13
Q
Histopathology of Cervical Lesions
- Condyloma
- CIN I
- CIN II
- CIN III
A
- raised lesion w/ koilocytes
- flat lesions w/ koilocytes- flat candyloma
- variable nuclear size, loss of cell polarity, hyperchromasia, and high N/C ratio; atypia in >1/3 epithelium
- same as 3, but atypia in >2/3 epithelium
14
Q
Types of Cervical Carcinoma (3)
A
- Squamous cell carcinoma (most common)
- Adenocarcinoma (2nd most common)
- Small Cell Carcinoma
15
Q
Epidemiology of Cervical Squamous cell Carcinoma
- How common?
- Why have rates declined?
A
- most common histologic type of cervical cancer
2. Pap test screening and early detection of pre-invasive lesions