An introduction to gynecologic pathology

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Gynecologic pathology is a big part of surgical pathology. Radiologists have a lot of trouble in this area. On CT it is not infrequently hard to pick-out the ovaries... and it is a reason they don't comment on 'em. The ovary is affected by a huge number of tumours.

Vulva

Cervix

The most common type of cervical cancer is: squamous cell carcinoma.

Common benign cause of bleeding.

Gynecologic cytology is mostly cervical cytology and cervical cytology is the biggest part of cytology.

Endometrium

Addresses dating of the endometrium.

Endometrial hyperplasia is considered the precursor of carcinoma.

A look at endometrial carcinoma.

A common non-malignant affliction that causes infertility and morbidity.

Ovary

The ovary has a wealth of pathology. It has benign tumours and malignant ones. The ovary article covers cysts of the ovary.

Uterine tube (Fallopian tube)

This was ignored in the past... current thinking is that it may be the real culprit in what is often labeled as "ovarian cancer".[1]

Uterus

Pregnancy

Chorionic villi are the minimum needed to diagnose pregnancy histologically.

When reproduction goes wrong.

A big endocrine organ that gets completely ignored by almost everyone.

Introduction to gynecologic tumours

Where to start when considering a malignant (epithelial) tumour of the gynecologic tract:

Serous Endometrioid Mucinous
Characteristics cilia, columnar cells
psammoma bodies, papillary arch.
gland forming, endometrium-like mucinous glands, colon-like
Differentiators cilia, psammoma bodies squamous metaplasia mucin, lack of necrosis
Associations atrophy endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia (?)
Typical age usually 60s+ 40-60 varies (?)
Grade typically high grade typically low grade often low
IHC p53+ diffuse, WT-1 +ve, D2-40 +ve, CA-125 +ve WT-1 -ve CK7 +ve, CK20 +ve (others CK7 +ve, CK20 -ve)
Main DDx poorly diff. endometrioid serous metastatic tumour (usually GI)

Benign stuff

Where to start when it looks benign:

Morphology Nucleus Cytoplasm Tumour Other Image
Hilus cells well-defined cell borders, solid eccentric, mild pleomorphism eosinophilic Hilus cell tumour absent in childhood Need one
Mesonephric remnant (aka Wolffian duct) cuboidal, glands/lumen present ovoid, small eosinophilic ? Develops into vas deferens in males. mesonephric r., cat (uoguelph.ca)
Walthard cell rest cuboidal, nested, solid "coffee bean" shape eosionphilic Brenner tumour nil Coffee bean n. (WP), Brenner t. (WP)

Hilus cell

Ref: Sternberg H4P.[2]

Epidemiology

  • Present in embryo.
  • Absent in childhood.
  • Reappear at puberty.
  • Common in post-menopausal women.

Micro.

  • Well-defined cell borders/spaced.
  • Eosinophilic cytoplasm.
  • Prominent nucleus.
  • In small clumps.
    • Similar to Leydig cells.

Pathology

Mesonephric remnant

Epidemiology

  • Embryological remnant - benign.
  • aka Wolffian duct - precursor of male reproductive tract.[3]

Micro

  • Cuboidal cells in glands/tubules - may surround cleft.[4]

DDx:

  • Adenocarcinoma
    • Mesonephric remnant has no cellular atypia

Image: [1]

Walthard cell rest

  • AKA Walthard cell nest.

Micro

  • Collection of eosinophilic (i.e. pink) cuboidal cells, solid (?).
  • Located on serosal surface of uterine tube.
  • Ellipical grooved nucleus ("coffee bean" appearance).

Epidemiology

Ref: [5]

Luteinized follicular cyst

Features:[6]

  • Stratified cuboidal/columnar epithelium-like cells with:
    • Small nuclei and small nucleoli.
    • Cytoplasm may be eosinophilic.
    • Sit on spindled cells (theca interna) that is luteinized.

See also

References

  1. Hirst, JE.; Gard, GB.; McIllroy, K.; Nevell, D.; Field, M. (Jul 2009). "High rates of occult fallopian tube cancer diagnosed at prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.". Int J Gynecol Cancer 19 (5): 826-9. doi:10.1111/IGC.0b013e3181a1b5dc. PMID 19574767.
  2. Sternberg SE. Histology for Pathologists. 2nd Ed. P.953.
  3. Hannema SE, Print CG, Charnock-Jones DS, Coleman N, Hughes IA (2006). "Changes in gene expression during Wolffian duct development". Horm. Res. 65 (4): 200–9. doi:10.1159/000092408. PMID 16567946.
  4. Sternberg SE. Histology for Pathologists. 2nd Ed. P.893.
  5. http://pathologyoutlines.com/fallopiantubes.html#walthard
  6. URL: http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/path/gyn/ovary2.cfm. Accessed on: 20 May 2010.