Female Reproductive System Diseases

Female Reproductive System

• The vulva, vagina, cervix, body of uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries, and placenta are parts of the female reproductive system.

Vulvar Disorders

• Vulvitis, Bartholin cyst, dermatologic disorders, non-specific epithelial disorders, and tumors are common vulvar disorders.
• Condyloma accuminatum is a type of tumor associated with HPV 6 and HPV 11, usually occurs in multiple lesions, and may coexist with VIN.
• VIN (Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia) is a type of tumor that may be precancerous.

Vaginal Disorders

• Vaginitis and primary tumors are rare, but the vagina can be secondarily involved in the spread of cancer or infections from the cervix, vulva, bladder, or rectum.
• VAIN (Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia) and squamous cell carcinoma are common vaginal disorders.
• Vaginal adenosis is a condition where Müllerian type epithelium is present in the vagina, often associated with exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero.
• Clear cell carcinoma is a type of tumor that can arise from vaginal adenosis.

Cervical Disorders

• CIN (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia) is a precursor to cervical cancer, and nearly all invasive cervical SCC arise from CIN.
• The Pap smear is a successful cancer screening test that can detect preinvasive and potentially curable early cancers.
• The peak age incidence of CIN is 30 years, and the peak age incidence of cervical cancer is 45 years.
• HPV is a major risk factor for CIN and invasive carcinoma.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)

• CIN can progress from low-grade to high-grade or begin as high-grade CIN.
• CIN I is mild dysplasia, CIN II is moderate dysplasia, and CIN III is severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ.
• The Bethesda system is used to classify cytology results, with LSIL (Low-grade SIL) corresponding to CIN I and HSIL (High-grade SIL) corresponding to CIN II and CIN III.

Cervical Carcinoma

• Squamous cell carcinomas are the most common type of cervical carcinoma (75%).
• Adenocarcinomas, adenosquamous carcinomas, and small-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas are less common types of cervical carcinoma.
• Tumors originate in the mucosa and can infiltrate the myometrium and metastasize to regional lymph nodes.