China Science

BACKGROUND: Psammoma bodies (PBs) are an unusual finding in cervical cytologypreparations. They have been identified in association with a wide range of benign and malignantconditions within the female genital tract. Portents of a significant underlying pathology includetheir occurrence in postmenopausal patients, the presence of unexplained vaginal bleeding and theiroccurrence in association with atypical cells. CASE: PBs associated with atypical cells weredetected in repeated cervical cytology smears of an asymptomatic, 55-year-old postmenopausal womanover a 4-year period. She was extensively investigated, and, in the absence of a bleeding) havedefinitive cause, she underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.Histologic examination of the specimen demonstrated the presence of bilateral benign ovarian serouscystadenofibromas with large numbers of PBs. Focally the PBs were closely apposed to the serosalsurface and invested in a blanket of mesothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Caution is required whenassessing the significance of PBs associated with atypical cells in a cervical cytology specimen.Our case demonstrates the presence of ovarian mesothelial cells mimicking atypical glandular cells.

Malcolm,P　St-John,A　Oladipo,A　Mathew,J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro,Cornwall, UK.
Postmenopausal state　 Human Females Cervical cytology Relationship byassociation