Theme 9: Gynaecological and Breast Pathology Flashcards
True or false: there are more than 100 subtypes of Human Papillomavirus.
True
Many are considered ‘low risk’ and most women can clear high and low risk HPV via their immune system.
Which are the two main low risk subtypes of HPV?
HPV 6 and 11
Low risk HPV are linked with genital warts and other low-grade cytological abnormalities.
Which are the four main high risk subtypes of HPV?
HPV 16, 18, 31 and 33
High risk HPV are associated with high-grade pre-invasive and invasive diseases.
True or false: roughly 50% of cervical cancers contain HPV DNA?
False. The figure is much higher.
99.7% of cervical cancers contain HPV DNA.
HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with what percentage of cervical cancers?
HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with ~70% of cervical cancers.
What are the two main vaccines available for HPV? Which subtypes does each cover?
- Gardasil
Covers HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18
6 and 11 are low-risk types that cause condylomata (genital warts)
16 and 18 are high-risk types that cause cervical intraepithelial neoplasms and invasive carcinoma - Cervarix
Covers HPV 16 and 18
How do high risk subtypes of HPV cause cancer?
Express E6 and E7 genes.
E6 bind to and inhibits p53. As p53 usually triggers apoptosis when faulty DNA is detected, these cells no longer self-destruct.
E7 binds to RB1, a tumour suppressor gene. RB1 usually regulates cell proliferation, therefore these cells proliferate without control.
Accumulation of genetic damage plus uncontrolled proliferation leads to neoplasms.
Which area of the cervix is most susceptible to oncogenic effects of HPV?
Transformation zone - an area that undergoes metaplasia even in normal physiological conditions.
The pre-invasive stage of cervical squamous cell carcinoma is known as ____.
The pre-invasive stage of cervical squamous cell carcinoma is known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
Detection of CIN is the aim of the cervical screening programme.
What is dyskaryosis?
Presence of squamous cells with abnormal cytological changes
If, at cervical screening, a woman is found to have a degree of dyskaryosis, what is the usual treatment option?
Large loop excision of the transformational zone (LLETZ)
What is the most important causative factor associated with cervical squamous cell carcinoma?
Infection by high risk HPV subtype (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33)
Although HPV is the number one cause of cervical cancer, what other risk factors are associated?
- Multiple sexual partners or male partner with multiple partners
- Young age at first intercourse
- High parity
- Low socioeconomic group
- Smoking (immunosuppressed as smoking lowers number of antigen presenting cells)
Cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (CGIN) is the precursor to which cancer?
Cervical adenocarcinoma
True or false: Cervical squamous cell carcinoma is highly related to high-risk HPV, but cervical adenocarcinoma is not.
False.
While high risk HPV is the most important factor in cervical SCC, it is also related to cervical adenocarcinoma.
Stage for stage, which has the worst prognosis, cervical SCC or cervical adenocarcinoma?
Cervical adenocarcinoma has the worse prognosis as it is harder to treat, due to its radioresistance.
What system is used to stage cervical cancer?
FIGO
I: Confined to cervix
II: Invades beyond uterus, but not pelvic side
III: Extends to pelvic wall, lower third of vagina, hydronephrosis
IV: Invades bladder or rectum or outside pelvis
What are the usual sites of metastasis for cervical cancers?
Pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes
Via blood to liver, lungs and bone
How is vulval intraepithelial neoplasia visualised?
Toluidine blue is painted over the area
What are the two subtypes of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia?
- Classical/warty/basaloid
2. Differentiated
How is classical/warty/basaloid VIN graded?
Classical/warty/basaloid VIN (vulval intraepithelial neoplasia) is graded as VIN 1-3
Which type of VIN is related to HPV infection?
Classical/warty/basaloid VIN (vulval intraepithelial neoplasia)
Which type of VIN is more common in younger women?
classical/warty/basaloid VIN
How is differentiated VIN graded?
It isn’t graded