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Polyps of the vagina. A benign lesion resembling sarcoma botryoides
Author(s) -
Norris Henry J.,
Taylor Herbert B.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(196602)19:2<227::aid-cncr2820190214>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - medicine , rhabdomyosarcoma , vagina , pathology , embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma , lesion , biopsy , stroma , sarcoma , anatomy , immunohistochemistry
This clinical and pathologic study of 24 vaginal polyps, 22 from adults and 2 from infants, was prompted by the need for recognition of a benign polypoid vaginal lesion which must be distinguished from sarcoma botryoides, rhabdomyosarcoma and mixed mesodermal tumor. Twelve of the 22 polyps from adults contained atypical cells within the stroma. Five of these patients were pregnant when the polyp was discovered. Follow‐up showed that the polyps are benign and adequately treated by local excision. The polyps from the 2 newborn infants were present at birth and were characterized by diffuse edema but contained no atypical stromal cells. One of the polyps regressed after biopsy. The other was locally excised and did not recur. Maternal hormones are thought to induce the intra‐uterine development of the polyps in infants. The criteria for distinguishing vaginal polyps from sarcoma botryoides, rhabdomyosarcoma and mixed mesodermal tumor are discussed.