Term
| what are different causes of vaginitis? |
|
Definition
| candida albicans (curdy-white), trichomonas (grayish-green) |
|
|
Term
| what are the benign epithelial tumors seen in the vagina? |
|
Definition
| intramural papilloma: branching configuration arising from the wall w/a lining of a *single layer of cuboidal cells. squamous papilloma: most due to HPV. tubovillous adenoma: similar to colorectal type. benign mixed tumor: made of *stromal-type spindle glands mixed w/mature *squamous cells and glands lined by mucinous epithelium. |
|
|
Term
| what is a vaginal intraepithelial neoplasm (VAIN)? |
|
Definition
| VAINs are more rare than VINs and are usually the *squamous type and seen in pts 60+. VAINs usually arise from the extension of cervical SCC, but they can arise as a primary tumor less commonly. |
|
|
Term
| what differentiates a VAIN from a vaginal SCC? |
|
Definition
| VAINs are not invasive and lack nests of squamous cells in the dermis |
|
|
Term
| what characterizes clear adenocarcinoma in the vagina? what is particularly important about it? prognosis? |
|
Definition
| clear cell adenocarcinoma is relatively uncommon in the vagina. when it occurs, it is found in the anterior/lateral wall of the upper vagina and vaginal bleeding/discharge are common symptoms. the avg age of dx is 17 w/a 2nd, smaller peak at 70. in the younger age group however, *2/3s of pts w/clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina have a hx of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) or related non-steroid estrogens*. prognosis is usually good. |
|
|
Term
| how does clear adenocarcinoma in the vagina present? microscopically? |
|
Definition
| most tumors are polypoid and nodular, though some are flat and ulcerated (most are superficially ulcerated at the time of dx). microscopically: tubules/cysts lined by clear cells w/more solid areas and papillary formations. the cells have *abundant clear cytoplasm due to glycogen and fat*. |
|
|
Term
| what are the mesenchymal tumors/tumor-like lesions which are seen in the vagina? |
|
Definition
| fibroepithelial polyps, leiomyoma leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyoma, and sarcoma botryoides |
|
|
Term
| what characterizes fibroepithelial polyps in the vagina? |
|
Definition
| these are benign and may be seen in adult women or neonates, and present as *finger-like projections w/a fibrovascular core lined by squamous epithelium. |
|
|
Term
| what characterizes leiomyomas in the vagina? |
|
Definition
| these are the *most common benign mesenchymal tumors* of the vagina. |
|
|
Term
| what characterizes leiomyosarcomas in the vagina? |
|
Definition
| these can be large and ulcerating and have moderate to marked atypical cells. |
|
|
Term
| what characterizes rhabdomyomas in the vagina? |
|
Definition
| these skeletal muscle lesions present as a polypoid mass seen in *adults, characterized by haphazardly arranged spindle cells w/few mitoses. cells may look vaguely like skeletal muscle. |
|
|
Term
| what is sarcoma botryoides (botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma)? |
|
Definition
| this is the malignant counterpart to rhabdomyoma, which is rare. sarcoma botryoides presents as a polypoid invasive tumor arising from the anterior vaginal wall (masses resemble grapes). histologically: *myxoid stroma w/round or spindle cells and *crowding of cells around blood vessels. most cases are in girls under 5 (most present during the first 2 years). |
|
|
