Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Articles

A Histopathologic Studies for Endometrium of Early Pregnancy.: Mi Ja Lee, Kenn Hong Kee, Chae Hong Suh, Ho Jong Jeon; Korean J Pathol. 1995;29(4):492-501.

Abstract PDF: Endometrium of early pregnancy were compared with nonpregnant endometnum by inimunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques with respect to glandular and stromal elements of endometrium. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The AS cell in decidua has all the features of actively secreting glandular epithelium and shows the pronounced arrays of glandular endoplasmic reticulum and moderate numbers of ribosomes ultrastructually. Therefore the AS cell indicate considerable protein production, presumably contributing to both cell gowth and the production of secretions. 2. The process of decidualization can be characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically by the accumulation of basement membrane-like materials, such as laminin and type IV collagen which may be related to the hormonal stimulation occuring during pregnancy and trophoblastic attachment. 3. The decidual cells show strong positive for vimentin and some large mature decidual cells show weakly positive for lysozyme and cti- antitrypsin, which might represent more the sequential differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells than origin of histiocytes. 4. Immunoreactivity with S-100 protein was found in glandular and stromal cells of decidua but negative in endometrium of nonpregnant women. So some humoral factors related to pregnancy stimulate expression of S-100 protein in glandular and stromal cells of decidua.

Pregnancy-Related Cytologic Changes In Cervicovaginal Smears.: Yi Kyeong Chun, Hoi Sook Jang, Hye Sun Kim, Sung Ran Hong, Jong Sun Choi, Ji Young Park, Jung Sook Cho, Seok Ju Seong, Jae Hyug Yang, Hy Sook Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 2004;15(2):92-100.

Abstract PDF: Due to insufficient clinical information, most cervicovaginal smears from pregnant or postpartum women have been screened without regard to pregnancy-related cytological changes. Here, we have reviewed 116 abnormal cervicovaginal smears from 103 pregnant and postpartum women. Initial cytological diagnoses revealed the following: 9 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 8 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 85 cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), and 14 cases involving atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS). 31 cases, upon review, involved pregnancy-related cytological changes, comprising 25 cases of decidua cells, 4 cases of Arias-Stella reaction, and 2 cases of decidual cells coupled with Arias-Stella reaction. Interpretation errors were detected in 14 cases: 13 cases of decidual cells interpreted as either ASCUS favor reactive or ASCUS ruled out HSIL, and one case of Arias-Stella reaction was interpreted as ASCUS ruled out HSIL. Decidual cells and degenerated glandular cells with Arias-Stella reaction can result in diagnostic mistakes. In order to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgeries, both clinicians and pathologists must be aware of the pregnancy-related cytological changes. The clinician should also always inform the pathologist on the pregnancy status of the patient.

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