| Description: | Under a magnification of 645X, this Papanicolaou stained (Pap stain) photomicrograph reveals some of the ultrastructural histopathologic changes found in a vaginal tissue biopsy specimen indicative of adenocarcinoma of the vagina. In this case, involving a teenage girl, it was believed that the onset of this cancer may have been due to the fact that the patient’s mother had taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant, as a treatment to avoid a possible spontaneous abortion.
DES Daughters are at increased risk for a wide range of abnormalities involving the Müllerian-derived portion of the genital tract, including clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) of the vagina and cervix, genital malformations, infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In addition, DES Daughters may be at increased risk for development of cervical dysplasia. See the link below for further information regarding the use of DES during pregnancy. |
