Gynecologic pathology, informally gyne path, 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.

Site specific

Vulva

Main article: Vulva

This covers the topic of vulva.

Vagina

Main article: Vagina

This covers the topic of vagina.

Cervix

Main article: Cervix

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

Main article: Cervical polyp

Common benign cause of bleeding.

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

Ovary

Main article: Ovary

Main article: Ovarian tumours

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)

Main article: Uterine 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

Main article: Uterine tumours

The article covers uterine leiomyomas, uterine carcinosarcomas and endometrial stromal tumours.

Endometrium

Main article: Endometrium

Addresses dating of the endometrium.

Main article: Endometrial hyperplasia

Endometrial hyperplasia is considered the precursor of carcinoma.

Main article: Endometrial carcinoma

A look at endometrial carcinoma.

Specific entities

Endometriosis

Main article: Endometriosis

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

Peritoneal inclusion cyst

Main article: Benign multicystic mesothelioma

This is dealt with in the omentum article. It is also known as benign multicystic mesothelioma^[2] and inflammatory cyst of the peritoneum.

Endosalpingiosis

Main article: Endosalpingiosis

Female adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin

Abbreviated FATWO.
AKA Wolffian adnexal tumour.

Main article: Female adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin

Introduction to gynecologic tumours

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

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

Benign stuff

Where to start when it looks benign:

Entity	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	FATWO, mesonephric adenocarcinoma	Develops into vas deferens in males.	MR (WC)
Walthard cell rest	cuboidal, nested, solid	"coffee bean" shape	eosionphilic	Brenner tumour	nil	WCR (WC) WCR (WC)

Hilus cells

General

Features:^[3]

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

Associated pathology:

Hilus cell tumour.

Microscopic

Features:^[4]

Similar to Leydig cells:
- Typically found in small clusters.
- Eosinophilic cytoplasm.
- Round nucleus +/- nucleolus.

Images

Hilus cell hyperplasia (upmc.edu).

IHC

Features:

Inhibin +ve.
Calretinin +ve.
PLAP -ve.

Mesonephric duct remnant

AKA Wolffian duct remnant.
AKA Gartner duct.^[5]

Main article: Mesonephric duct remnant

Walthard cell rest

AKA Walthard cell nest.

Main article: Walthard cell rest

Paraurethral cyst

Main article: Paraurethral cyst

Luteinized follicular cyst

Main article: Luteinized follicular cyst

Other

Pregnancy

Main article: Chorionic villi

Chorionic villi are the minimum needed to diagnose pregnancy histologically.

Main article: Gestational trophoblastic disease

When reproduction goes wrong.

Main article: Placenta

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

References

↑ 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.
↑ Vallerie, AM.; Lerner, JP.; Wright, JD.; Baxi, LV. (May 2009). "Peritoneal inclusion cysts: a review.". Obstet Gynecol Surv 64 (5): 321-34. doi:10.1097/OGX.0b013e31819f93d4. PMID 19386139.
↑ Sternberg, Stephen S. (1997). Histology for Pathologists (2nd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 953. ISBN 978-0397517183.
↑ URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case394/dx.html. Accessed on: 16 January 2012.
↑ URL: http://webpathology.com/image.asp?n=3&Case=540. Accessed on: 22 October 2012.

[pmid19574767-1] 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.

[pmid19386139-2] Vallerie, AM.; Lerner, JP.; Wright, JD.; Baxi, LV. (May 2009). "Peritoneal inclusion cysts: a review.". Obstet Gynecol Surv 64 (5): 321-34. doi:10.1097/OGX.0b013e31819f93d4. PMID 19386139.

[Ref_H4P2_953-3] Sternberg, Stephen S. (1997). Histology for Pathologists (2nd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 953. ISBN 978-0397517183.

[4] URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case394/dx.html. Accessed on: 16 January 2012.

[5] URL: http://webpathology.com/image.asp?n=3&Case=540. Accessed on: 22 October 2012.

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An introduction to gynecologic pathology

Contents