Week 6- cervical-vulval pathology Flashcards
What is the normal structure of the ectocervix?
Surface layer is called exfoliating cells
Then superficial and intermediate cells
Then parabasal cells
Basal cells
Basement membrane.
This is the normal structure of the endocervix.
What is the transition zone?
The sqaumo-columnar junction between ectocervical (squamous) and endocervical (columnar) epithelia.
What does the position of the transition zone alter in?
Menarche
Pregnancy
Menopause
This is the squamocolumnar junction
What is cervical erosion?
Exposure of delicate endocervical epithelium on the ectocervix causes the acid environment of vagina to cause a physiological squamous metaplasia.
Formation of Nabothian follicles- these are small fluid filled cysts that occur in response to growth of the squamous epithelium over the columnar epithelium in the endocervix.
(Endocervix grows down into the ectocervix which is in the acidic environment of the vagina. This then causes squamous metaplasia)
What inflammatory causes can cause change to the cervix?
Cervicitis
Cervical polyps.
What is cervicitis?
What causes it?
Inflammation of the cervix. Often can be asymptomatic- however can lead to infertility due to silent fallopian tube damage.
Could be due to:
- follicular cervicitis- sub-epithelial reactive lymphoid follicles present in the cervix.
- Chlamydia
- Herpes
What is a cervical polyp?
What symptoms may occur?
Is it malignant?
A localised inflammatory outgrowth
Can cause bleeding
No its benign and NOT pre-malignant.
What neoplastic causes can cause pathology of the cervix?
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Cervical cancer- this can be squamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.
What percentage of cervical cancer has HPV as its driving cause?
75%
What are some risk factors for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer?
HPV infection- particularly types 16 and 18.
Vulnerability of squamo-columnar junction in early reproductive life-e.g. age at first intercourse, long term contraceptives, non-use of barrier contraception
Smoking
Immunosuppression
Which HPV’s cause genital warts?
Describe the changes that occur to the epithelial layer.
HPV type 6 and 11.
Condyloma Acuminatum- means changes that occur to the epithelial membrane in HPV. It becomes thickened, papillomatous squamous epithelium with cytoplasmic vacuolation.
Describe the epithelial changes in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Which HPV types are associated with these changes?
Infected epithelium remains flat, but may show koilocytosis (squamous epithelial cells undergo structural changes due to HPV), which can be detected in cervical smears.
HPV types 16 and 18.
Describe what occurs with the viral DNA and cervical cancer?
Virus integrates with the host DNA.
How long can it take from being infected with HPV to having CIN?
6 months to 3 years.
How long does it take for a high grade CIN to change to an invasive cancer?
5-20 years.
Which age group are most likely to be infected by HPV?
15-25 year olds.
What increases the risk of disease?
Persistently acquiring the virus.
Most people do develop immunity.