Reproductive System, Female
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic
Narrative
Endometrial hyperplasia with a cystic component (cystic endometrial hyperplasia, or CEH) (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6) occurs more commonly in mice than in rats and is particularly associated with increasing age. The change encompasses a spectrum of lesions from a minimal proliferation of the endometrial glands to a uterus characterized by large cystic glands and little remaining endometrium. CEH may occur as the result of prolonged estrogen stimulation associated with ovarian follicular cysts and exogenous administration of estrogenic compounds. There is an increase in the number of dilated glands with densely staining cuboidal or columnar cells with normal intervening stroma. CEH is not a localized lesion, although it may appear localized in the few sections of uterus examined microscopically. The most severely affected uteri are large and lined by attenuated epithelium.
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic should be diagnosed and graded whenever present. If there is a difference in the severity of grade of CEH between the two uterine horns, the more severe grade should be diagnosed.
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Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female Sprague Dawley rat from a chronic study. There is mild cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
All Images
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female Sprague Dawley rat from a chronic study. There is mild cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female Sprague Dawley rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 2). The endometrial epithelium is columnar.
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female B6C3F1/N mouse from a chronic study. There is mild cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female B6C3F1/N mouse from a chronic study. There is moderate cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female B6C3F1/N mouse from a chronic study. There are many irregularly dilated endometrial glands.
Uterus, Endometrium - Hyperplasia, Cystic in a female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study. Dilated glands contain cellular debris and eosinophilic fluid, and the endometrial epithelium is flattened.