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Female Reproductive System

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Normal Cytology

Abstract

The female genital tract includes the vulva and vagina, uterus and uterine cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The most common cytologic specimen encountered is the Papanicolaou (Pap) test for cervical cancer screening, from which ectocervical squamous cells and endocervical glandular cells are obtained, as well as endometrial lining cells on occasion. Cells from the upper gynecologic tract, such as the lining cells of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, can also be seen in pelvic washings that are commonly performed at the time of gynecologic surgery. The following chapter focuses on the cytologic spectrum of normal and benign squamous cells, endocervical cells, endometrial cells, fallopian tube surface epithelium, and ovarian cellular elements, with a particular focus on common cytologic findings in the “negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy” Pap test.

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Correspondence to Richard L. Cantley .

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Cantley, R.L., Smola, B., Naik, K., Pantanowitz, L. (2022). Female Reproductive System. In: Lew, M., Pang, J., Pantanowitz, L. (eds) Normal Cytology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20336-7_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20336-7_9

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-20335-0

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