Case Of the Week


Case 22

This is a clear cell carcinoma of the vagina. Such neoplasms are rare. Many of them have arisen in women whose mothers were exposed to diethylstilbesterol (DES) in utero. However, few women who were exposed in such a manner will develop vaginal clear cell carcinoma. The cells are "clear" because of the vacuolated cytoplasm containing glycogen. Vaginal adenosis, a red granular focus on vaginal mucosa, may precede the development of clear cell carcinoma. These cancers are usually discovered in the late teen years, but their insidious growth means that they may have already spread locally at the time of diagnosis.
Our winner is: Dr. Bruce Koepp of Napa, California USA


Return to the C.O.W. main menu.