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Herpetic salpingitis and fallopian tube prolapse
Author(s) -
Lefrancq T,
Orain I,
Michalak S,
Hourseau M,
Fetissof F
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1999.00644.x
Subject(s) - fallopian tube , salpingitis , medicine , vagina , cervix , cervical canal , vaginal vault , gynecology , vaginoplasty , surgery , cancer
Aim We describe the unusual association of fallopian tubal prolapse and herpetic infection, an occurrence not previously reported to our knowledge. Methods and results A 37‐year‐old woman presented with a small polypoid mass of the vaginal vault, 3 months after abdominal hysterectomy and abdominoplasty. The vaginal mass proved to be the fimbriated end of a fallopian tube, herniated into the vagina. Reintervention 3 months later with resection of a small vaginal ‘polyp’ revealed a residual portion of fallopian tube, with superimposed herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and marked cytological atypia of surface epithelial cells. HSV‐2 immunostaining of viral nuclear inclusions and of atypical cells confirmed the herpetic nature of the infection. Conclusion Involvement of the genito‐urinary tract by HSV may occur via an ascending infection from the cervix, but the fallopian tube, deeply located in the pelvis, is generally spared from herpetic infection. In the setting of fallopian tubal prolapse, direct exposure of the herniated fallopian tube to various pathogens in the vagina provides an unique clinical model for salpingitis. In herpetic tubal infections, special attention must be paid to cytological atypia of probable viral cytopathogenic origin, to avoid a misdiagnosis of malignancy.