Vulva, Vagina, Cervix - Dobson Flashcards
Vagina is itchy, red, swollen, with a thick white discharge
Diagnostic test?
pH?
Candidiasis
KOH test - pseudohyphae or pseudospores
Normal pH (4.0 - 4.5)
Vulvovaginal candidiasis - what can be assumed?
Causes?
Disturbance in microbial ecosystem or neutrophils or T-helper cells
DM, antibiotics, pregnancy, OCPs, immunodeficiency (cancer, transplant, HIV), burns, indwelling catheter
Painful vesicles w/ purulent exudate on vulva that become ulcers rimmed by inflammatory infiltrate, fever, headache, myalgia, tender inguinal LNs
Viral inclusions w/ ground-glass appearance
HSV-2 genital herpes
2 ways HSV-2 can be transmitted
Sexual, perinatal
Describe HSV-2 infection and recurrences
- Replicate in skin/mucous membranes at entry, causing infectious virions and vesicular lesions
- Viruses spread to LUMBOSACRAL GANGLIA (sensory neurons) and lie dormant
- Infection recurs in immunocompetent or immunocompromised for various reasons
Immunocompromised + HSV recurrence…potential presentations
Meningitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis
Baby is born with lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, encephalitis, necrotic foci throughout body
Prognosis?
Neonatal HSV-2 (TORCH infection)
Poor (high mortality rate)
Things that can trigger HSV recurrence in immunocompetent person
Stress, trauma, hormones, temperature extremes, UV radiation
Men vs. women - symptomatic w/ HSV?
Men - ALWAYS
Women - 1/3
Yellow, frothy vaginal discharge, pain, painful urination, painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
What to expect on full exam?
Trichomonas vaginalis
Fiery red vaginal/cervical mucosa (inflammation) (STRAWBERRY CERVIX)
Large, flagellated ovoid protozoan
Trichomonas vaginalis
Thin, green-gray, malodorous (fishy) vaginal discharge, no inflammation
Bacteria type?
Test?
Gardnerella vaginalis
Gram-negative bacillus
Whiff test (enhances fishy odor)
Pap smear = squamous cells covered in shaggy coating of coccobacilli
Clue cells – Gardnerella vaginosis
Pregnant woman presents w/ thin green-gray fishy vaginal discharge. Dx?
Caution?
Gardnerella
Risk of premature labor
Female presents for routine Pap smear. Results show small gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria.
What else can be seen in the cells?
Chlamydia trachomatis
Elementary bodies and reticulate bodies
Men vs. women - symptomatic w/ Chlamydia?
Women - asymptomatic
Men - urethritis or asymptomatic
Chlamydia - risk?
PID (spread to uterus and fallopian tubes)
Pearly, dome-shaped papules w/ dimpled/umbilicated center; cytoplasmic viral inclusions
Bug?
Molluscum contagiosum
Poxvirus
Molluscum contagiosum - kids vs adults
Kids (2-12) - direct contact/shared articles - trunk, arms, legs
Adults - sexually transmitted - genitals, lower abdomen, buttocks, inner thighs
What is PID?
Infection beginning in the vulva/vagina that spreads upward into the rest of the female genital system, causing mucosal inflammation and exudate and healing and scarring
Pelvic pain, adnexal tenderness, fever, vaginal discharge
PID
Causes of PID (3)
N. gonorrhea, Chlamydia, post-abortion infections (polymicrobial)
Severe acute inflammation of the mucosal surfaces of the genital tract, exudate w/ phagocytosed gram-negative diplococci w/in neutrophils
N. gonorrhea
First typical place of spread from the vagina/cervix of gonococcal infection
Complication? Explain findings
Fallopian tubes (endometrium is skipped)
Acute salpingitis (tubal mucosa infiltrated diffusely by neutrophils, plasma cells, and lymphocytes), causing SLOUGHING OF PLICAE and PURULENT EXUDATE
Next potential complication of gonococcal infection after salpingitis
Findings
Ovary (salpingo-oophoritis)
Pus accumulation (tubo-ovarian abscesses or pyosalpinx (tubal lumen))
First chronic complication of gonococcal PID
Explain
Complication of this complication
Chronic salpingitis
Denuded tubal walls adhere to one another and fuse/scar, causing gland-like spaces and blind pouches
Infertility or ectopic pregnancy
Second chronic complication of gonococcal PID (after chronic salpingitis)
Explain
Hydrosalpinx
Accumulation of tubal secretions, causing distention of the tubes
How does PID of other organisms differ from gonococcal PID?
Results?
Less mucosal involvement, more deeper tissue layer involvement
Involvement of serosa, broad ligaments, pelvic structures, and peritoneum
What immune deficiency increases the risk for disseminated gonococcal infection?
Complement 6-9 (MAC) deficiency
Men vs. women - symptomatic w/ gonorrhea?
Women - often asymptomatic (unless PID)
Men - urethral discharge
Most common diseases of the vulva are what?
Cutaneous disorders (dermatoses) and superficial infections
Vulva - opaque, white plaque-like epithelial thickening, producing pruritis and scaling
Causes
Leukoplakia
Squamous cell hyperplasia, neoplasias, (inflammatory dermatoses)
Post-menopause, smooth white patch/plaques that coalesce into parchment-like skin around the vulva.
Any risk? If?
Lichen sclerosis
Slight risk of squamous cell carcinoma - IF SYMPTOMATIC
Lichen sclerosis - histology (5)
Hyperkeratosis, THIN EPIDERMIS, basal cell layer degeneration, sclerosis of superficial dermis, band-like lymphocytic infiltrate
Cigarette paper, butterfly, or figure 8 pattern of skin plaques on vulva
Lichen sclerosis
Complications of lichen sclerosis (besides SCC)
Atrophic labia minora, clitoral hood fusion (phimosis), vaginal orifice constriction
How does squamous cell hyperplasia (lichen simplex chronicus) differ from lichen sclerosis? (3)
- From rubbing/scratching to relieve itchiness
- THICKENING of epidermis
- Mitotic activity (maybe)
How to know that squamous cell hyperplasia is not neoplastic?
No cellular atypia