Sebaceous glands and hair follices in the cervix uteri

Abstract

We report a case of ectopic ectodermal structures in the ectocervix of a 51-year-old female. Sebaceous glands and numerous abnormal hair follicles were present in the stroma of an otherwise normal cervix.

Epidermalization of Cervix and Vagina

“…Two main theories have been postulated to explain this phenomenon. One refers to a developmental anomaly that would result in misplaced embryonic tissue (true heterotopia), and a second theory considers this a metaplastic process [7].…”

“…Several authors believe that the presence of ectodermal structures in the cervix and vagina are most likely the result of a metaplastic process [1,7]. The basis for such an idea is the well-known ability of the cervix and vagina to undergo metaplastic change in response to trauma, irritation, or inflammation after local therapy [1,7,11].…”

Ectopic Sebaceous Glands in the Vagina

“…In the female genital tract, sebaceous glands rarely have been reported in the uterus and cervix (9,10,19,(21)(22)(23)(24). We have encountered an example of ectopic sebaceous glands in the upper third of the posterior wall of the vagina.…”

“…Ectopic sebaceous glands have been described in the male and female genitalia, parotid gland, orbit, cervix uteri, larynx, tongue, and esophagus (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). In the female genital tract, sebaceous glands rarely have been reported in the uterus and cervix (9,10,19,(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Cutaneous Neoplasms with Sebaceous Differentiation

“…There have been numerous case reports of sebaceous ectopias on the penis, labia minora, vagina, cervix, uteri, larynx, tongue, esophagus and orbit. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Since the sebaceous gland is of ectodermal origin a metaplastic change or an ectodermal tissue arrest might be responsible for these more unusual locations (eg, leg, cervix, larynx etc. ).…”