New publications
Cervical ectopia
Ectopia (syn. pseudo-erosion, glandular erosion, endocervicosis) is a section of the vaginal part of the cervix covered with a single-layer columnar epithelium.
Macroscopically, ectopia has a bright red color and a granular surface; the shape and size of ectopia varies depending on the severity of the pathological process.
Causes cervical ectopia
Cervical ectopia may have various etiologies and manifest itself in several morphological forms. In most cases, this is a normal physiological process.
Posttraumatic ectopia occurs after complicated childbirth or abortions; congenital or physiological ectopia is associated with physiological features of the localization of the junction (border) between the flat and columnar epithelium in newborns, girls and young women - outside the external os. At an older age, ectopia is a consequence of hormonal disorders.
Symptoms cervical ectopia
This pathology is accompanied by abnormal and/or profuse vaginal discharge and minor bleeding.
[ 12 ]
Where does it hurt?
Forms
| By etiological signs | By morphological structure |
| Congenital | Simple |
| Dishormonal | Proliferating |
| Post-traumatic | Epidermizing |
The simple form of ectopia is characterized by the absence of signs of increased proliferation in the cells of the columnar epithelium; for proliferating forms of endocervicosis, neoplasm of glandular structures is typical, which indicates the progression of the pathological process; epidermizing (healing) ectopia is distinguished by the appearance of islands of multilayered squamous epithelium in the area of the columnar epithelium.
Epidermization of ectopia is carried out:
- squamous cell metaplasia of reserve cells;
- directly growing from the edges of the stratified squamous epithelium.
As a rule, the replacement of a single-layer cylindrical epithelium with a flat multilayered one is benign. However, with long-term epidermization processes under the influence of unfavorable factors, atypical changes in the metaplastic flat epithelium can form up to the development of cervical cancer.
What do need to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment cervical ectopia
Cervical ectropion is treated using various methods:
- Electrocoagulation.
- Cryodestruction.
- Microwave coagulation.
- Laser cauterization.