Repro 4 Flashcards
What are the two components of the uterine wall?
Endometirum - mucosal lining of the uterine cavity, hormone sensitive
Myometrium - smooth muscle wall underlying the endometirum
What is endometritis? What is the most common cause?
Bacterial infection and inflammation of the endometrium; most commonly due to retained products of conception, which act as a nidus for infection.
In the inflammation seen in chronic endometritis, what cells are seen?
plasma cells and lymphocytes.
Plasma cells are necessary for this diagnosis, because lymphocytes are normally found in the endometrium.
What is the classic presentation of endometrial hyperplasia?
post-menopausal uterine bleeding
How is endometrial hyperplasia classified?
It is classified histologically based upon architectural growth pattern (simple or complex), and the presence or absence of cellular atypia.
The presence of cellular atypia is the most important predictor for progression to carcinoma
What is endometrial carcinoma, and how does it typically present?
It is a malignant proliferation of endometrial glands.
It presents as post-menopausal vaginal bleeding.
What are risk factors for endometrial carcinoma?
All stem from increased exposure to estrogen:
HRT without progestins
nulliparity
obesity
late menopause
Tamoxifen
Why would tamoxifen increase the risk of endometrial carcinoma?
In the breast, tamoxifen binds and inhibits the estrogen receptor.
However, in the endometrium, tamoxifen can activate the estrogen receptor, leading to endometrial hyperplasia and increased risk for carcinoma.
