Abstract
Histological examinations on 445 pregnant uterine cervices were conducted at the clinic of the Obsteric and the Gynecology, the Kanazawa National Hospital during three years periods from January 1955 to December 1957. The following results were obtained:
1) Changes in the glandular epithelial layer.
a) The glandular hyperplasia-increase in the number of glands in cervix.
b) Hyperplasia of glandular epithelium-stratification of glandular epithelial cells.
c) The adenomatous hyperplasia-Invasion of numerous small glands into larger glands.
These epithelial changes should strictly be differentiated from adenocarcinoma.
2) Changes in the squamous ells layer.
Edema and growth of blood vessels are noticed within the epithelial layer together with the thickening of this layer.
a) Squamous cell invade into the glands mixed with columunar epithelium.-There is squamous metaplasia accompanying the cellular atypicality, which must be carefully differentiated from the carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma.
b) Basal cell hyperplasia (B. C. G.)-The basal cell proliferated to form multiple layers, some of which show advanced degree by growing nearly up to the surface. Caution should be paid on some of the cases with this change, for it might sometimes develop to a carcinoma in situ.
3) Edema and decidual reaction. These changes are sometimes noticed in the connective tissue.
The author's studies indicated that 14 cases (16.6%) which hyperplasia of glandular epithelium and adenomatous hyperplasia were seen. Squamous metaplasia were noticed in 158 cases (35.5%) and among which 68 cases (15.2%) were accompanied with cellular atypy. The basal cell hyperplasia (B. C. H.) were seen in 25 cases (5.67%) and those which had advanced change were seemed to be difficult to differentiate them from carcinoma in situ. This change, however, was reversible in most of the cases except two cases which showed progressing tendency.
These changes were recognized on the pregnant cervical tissue, particularly it was deemed that the squamous cell metaplasia and basal cell hyperplasia were important in the differential diagnosis with cervical cancer.
Neverthless since these changes might often regress by the interruption on pregnancy or delivery, in purpose of establishing an accurate diagnosis these equivocal changes should be followed and re-examined at the time when the examine is not pregnant.
