Cellular characteristics of Arias-Stella reaction in ectopic pregnancy. Immunocytochemical studies with epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin

Arias-Stella reaction in a cervicovaginal smear of a woman undergoing infertility treatment: A case report

Arias-Stella reaction commonly is seen in gestational endometrium, but rarely is described outside the endometrium, particularly in nonpregnant women. Although the cytological diagnoses of Arias-Stella reaction by cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in pregnant, postpartum, and postabortal women are documented, to our knowledge, this is the first report of Arias-Stella reaction in a cervicovaginal smear of a nonpregnant woman undergoing infertility treatment with clomiphene and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG). The cytological features observed in this case were characteristic of Arias-Stella reaction but mimic malignancy leading to initial misinterpretation. It is of paramount importance to recognize this phenomenon in cervical Pap smears, especially in women receiving ovulation-inducing agents and exogenous hormonal treatment to avoid this potential cytological pitfall.

Immunolocalization of glucose transporter 1 and 3 in the placenta: application to cytodiagnosis of Papanicolaou smear

A positive immunostaining for glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) was exclusively localized in microvilli on the free surface of syncytiotrophoblasts in the placenta. An enhanced immunoreaction for glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) was elicited in the cell membrane of intermediate trophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts. Neither GLUT1 nor GLUT3 was positive in decidual cells and epithelial components from cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Cervicovaginal smears from six pregnant women containing atypical cells of unknown origin were subjected to immunocytochemical testing with antibodies against GLUT1 and GLUT3. Atypical cells in smears from two pregnant women were found to be positive for GLUT3 while no specific immunoreaction for GLUT1 was elicited, indicating their origin from either intermediate trophoblasts or cytotrophoblasts. Through the use of antibodies against vimentin and cytokeratin 17, GLUT3-negative atypical cells were further sorted into decidual cells and epithelial components from cervical dysplasia, respectively.