title: Arias-Stella reaction in a cervicovaginal smear of a woman undergoing infertility treatment: a case report.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Millie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boerner
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005960:Glucosides; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D005960:Glucosides; C020776:miserotoxin