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Difference between revisions of "Uterine cervix"
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The '''uterine cervix''', also simply '''cervix''', is the gateway to the uterine corpus. It is not infrequently afflicted by cancer -- [[squamous cell carcinoma]]. Prior to routine | The '''uterine cervix''', also simply '''cervix''', is the gateway to the uterine corpus. It is not infrequently afflicted by cancer -- [[squamous cell carcinoma]]. Prior to routine [[Pap test]]s it was a leading cause of cancer death in women in the Western world. | ||
Polyps associated with the cervix are discussed the ''[[cervical polyp]]'' article. | Polyps associated with the cervix are discussed the ''[[cervical polyp]]'' article. | ||
[[Cytopathology]] of the cervix is dealt with in the ''[[gynecologic cytopathology]]'' article. | [[Cytopathology]] of the uterine cervix is dealt with in the ''[[gynecologic cytopathology]]'' article. | ||
=Introduction= | =Introduction= | ||
*Most cervix cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. | *Most cervix cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. | ||
**An effective screening test to detect this is the ''Pap test'', which is dealt with in the ''[[gynecologic cytopathology]]'' article. | |||
*The work-up of an abnormal ''Pap test'' is a ''colposcopic examination'' and biopsies, which are the topic of ''this'' article. | |||
==Biopsies== | |||
The types of biopsies that are done are: | |||
# Cervical biopsies - to work-up squamous dysplasia, e.g. [[squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix]]. | |||
# Endocervical curettage (ECC) - to work-up columnar dysplasia, e.g. [[endocervical adenocarcinoma]]/[[endometrial adenocarcinoma]]. | |||
# Endometrial curettage (endometrial biopsy) - covered in the ''[[endometrium]]'' article. | |||
=Normal histology= | =Normal histology= | ||
*The uterine cervix consists of non-keratinized squamous epithelium and simple columnar epithelium. | |||
*The area of overlap (between squamous & columnar) is known as the "transformation zone".<ref>URL: [http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/Courses/path/gyn/cervix1.cfm http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/Courses/path/gyn/cervix1.cfm]. Accessed on: 12 May 2010.</ref> | |||
**Also known as "transition zone". | |||
==Endocervical glands== | ==Endocervical glands== | ||
Cervical glands normally have round nuclei and vaguely resemble the colonic mucosa. | Cervical glands normally have round nuclei and vaguely resemble the colonic mucosa. | ||