Reproductive System, Female

Vagina - Ulcer

Narrative
Comment:

An ulcer of the vagina is a focal loss of the epithelium with a breach of the underlying basement membrane (Figure 1 and Figure 2). There is typically an associated inflammatory cell reaction. It is most commonly seen as a consequence of local, intravaginal administration of materials such as pessaries and xenobiotics.

Recommendations:

Vagina - Ulcer should be diagnosed and graded. The associated inflammation should not be diagnosed separately unless warranted by severity but should be described in the pathology narrative.

References:

Dixon D, Alison R, Bach U, Colman K, Foley GL, Harleman JH, Hawarth R, Herbert R, Heuser A, Long G, Mirsky M, Regan K, Van Esch E, Westwood FR, Vidal J, Yoshida M. 2014. Nonproliferative and proliferative lesions of the rat and mouse female reproductive system (INHAND). J Toxicol Pathol 27(suppl):1S-107S.

Full Text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253081/

Greaves P. 2012. Female genital tract. In: Histopathology of Preclinical Toxicity Studies: Interpretation and Relevance in Drug Safety Evaluations, 4th ed. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 667-724.

  • Image of ulcer in the vagina from a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat in a chronic study

    Vagina - Ulcer in a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study. There is a focal area of ulceration of the vagina epithelium.

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Vagina - Ulcer in a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study. There is a focal area of ulceration of the vagina epithelium.
Vagina - Ulcer in a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study. There is a focal area of ulceration of the vagina epithelium.
Vagina - Ulcer in a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). There is loss of epithelium in a focal area of the vagina.
Vagina - Ulcer in a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). There is loss of epithelium in a focal area of the vagina.

Authors

Gabrielle Willson, BVMS, Dip RC Path, FRC Path, MRCVS
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Karen Y. Cimon, DVM, MS
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Reviewers

Karen S. Regan, DVM, DABT, DACVP
Pathologist
Regan Path/Tox Services, Inc.
Ashland, OH  

Darlene Dixon, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Fellow, IATP
Group Leader, Molecular Pathogenesis Group
National Toxicology Program Laboratory
National Toxicology Program
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC