Ectopic Prostate in the Uterine Cervix / Female Genital Tract Including Vagina and Vulva: A Review of the Literature

Background: Men are known to have prostate glands but not women. The thought of prostate gland
occurring in the female genital tract in women would be petrifying to all clinicians and people who are
not aware of its biological behavior. Ectopic prostate in the uterine cervix (EPIUC) and the female
genital tract (FGT) is very rare.
Aim: To review the literature on EPIUC/FGT and to document its biological behavior.
Methods: Information obtained from 17 references, was used to provide the literature review on
EPIUC/FGT.
Results: Few cases of EPIUC/FGT have been reported at ages ranging between 21 and 82 years
EPIUCs/FGTs may be diagnosed incidentally in biopsies of the cervix/vagina/vulva, or in
hysterectomy specimens or they may mimic leiomyomas. Histological examination of cervical biopsies
or of the cervix in hysterectomy specimens tends to reveal ducts and acini some papillary or
cribriform, with prominent squamous metaplasia EPIUCs/FGTs which does show positive
Immunohisto-chemical staining for prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostatic-specific acid
phosphatase (PSAP [PAP]), high molecular weight keratin (for basal cells). EPIUCs reported so far
have exhibited benign behavior.
Conclusions: Information obtained from the literature would indicate that EPIUCs / FGTs are rare
and so far have exhibited benign behavior. Clinicians should report cases of EPIUC/FGT in order to
establish whether or not EPIUCs/FGTs may or may not develop into carcinomas in the future. Ectopic
prostate in the uterine cervix and the female genital tract is very rare and pathologists and
gynaecologists may not be familiar with this entity because of its rarity. The differential diagnoses
include: adenocarcinoma in situ, adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix and minimal deviation
adenocarcinoma of the cervix. It is important for pathologists, gynaecologists and all clinicians to be
aware of the presence of ectopic prostate in the uterine cervix, vagina and vulva in order that an
accurate diagnosis is made and in order to avoid unwarranted radical surgical treatment.