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Unusual endocervical lesions with endocrine cells
F Fetissof1, A Heitzman, M C Machet
1Laboratoire d'Anatomie pathologique, Faculté de Médecine, Tours, France.
Pathology, Research and Practice
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Four unusual endocervical lesions were identified, characterized by abnormal glands and prominent endocrine cells. These findings, distinct from typical endocervical neoplasia, may resemble adenoma malignum and are aided by the Grimelius stain for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Pathology
- Endocrine Pathology
- Cervical Cancer Research
Background:
- Unusual endocervical lesions can present diagnostic challenges.
- Distinguishing benign proliferative processes from malignant neoplasia is crucial.
- Endocervical mucosa normally has limited endocrine cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe and characterize four cases of unusual endocervical lesions.
- To investigate the morphological features and potential classification of these lesions.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods for identifying these specific endocervical abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of four endocervical tissue samples.
- Analysis of architectural patterns, epithelial characteristics, and stromal components.
- Application of the Grimelius stain to detect endocrine (argyrophilic) cells.
Main Results:
- Lesions showed abnormal architecture with branched/small glands and hypermucinous epithelium.
- All lesions contained prominent and variegated endocrine cells, unlike normal endocervical mucosa.
- Two lesions were confined to the endocervical mucosa, lacking infiltrative/metastatic features.
Conclusions:
- This group of endocervical lesions represents a distinct entity not currently classified as a well-defined neoplasia.
- Morphological similarities exist with adenoma malignum, warranting further investigation.
- The Grimelius reaction is valuable for recognizing these small, highly differentiated lesions due to argyrophilic cells.