The prevalence of bright red linear markings (cat scratch colon) in the cecum and ascending colon is 0.25%. These markings appear to be superficial breaks in the mucosa possibly secondary to barotrauma. Patients tend to be older women with higher proportion of collagenous colitis.
Cytologic evaluations of pelvic washing specimens are commonly requested by gynecologic surgeons who treat ovarian, fallopian tube, and other mass lesions of the female pelvis. Confirmation of the presence or absence of neoplastic cells in pelvic washing fluids may impact the staging, prognosis and therapy of primary pelvic diseases. In the current case, a 45-year-old woman with a past medical history of obesity and fatty liver disease but with no history of visceral malignancy, presented with gradually worsening pelvic pain. The patient was referred to a gynecologist who ordered a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. The CT scan confirmed an 8.2-cm cystic structure posterior to the uterus, and the interpreting radiologist commented that the cystic lesion "might be of ovarian etiology." The other pelvic visceral organs and structures were noted to be unremarkable, and no pelvic lymphadenopathy was present (Fig. 1). The patient underwent surgical excision of the cystic pelvic lesion, and a concomitant pelvic washing was performed. The pelvic washing sample consisted of 50 ml of hazy pink fluid. One modified giemsa stained cytocentrifuge preparation slide, one Papanicolaou stained ThinPrep slide, and one hematoxylin and eosin stained cell block slide were created from the washing sample. These slides were screened by an ASCP certified cytotechnologist who provided a preliminary interpretation of "malignant cells present," and the slides were then passed to a pathologist for review, correlation with histopathologic findings and final interpretation. The cytotechnologist dotted specific cell groups of concern on the Papanicolaou stained ThinPrep slide.Gross and histopathologic examinations of the cystic pelvic mass (labeled by the gynecologic surgeon as a Fig. 1. Pelvic CT scan from 45-year-old female with pelvic pain. The image confirms an 8.2-cm retrouterine cystic lesion with a dark color and smooth to lobulated peripheral edges.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.