Arias-Stella reaction explained

Arias-Stella reaction, also Arias-Stella phenomenon, is a benign change in the endometrium associated with the presence of chorionic tissue.^[1]

Arias-Stella reaction is due to progesterone primarily. Cytologically, it resembles a malignancy and, historically, it was misdiagnosed as endometrial cancer.^[1]

Significance

It is significant only because it can be misdiagnosed as a cancer. It may be seen in a completely normal pregnancy.

Diagnosis

It is characterized by nuclear enlargement and may also have any of the following: an irregular nuclear membrane, granular chromatin, centronuclear vacuolization, and pseudonuclear inclusions.^[1]

Five subtypes are recognized:^[1]

1. Minimal atypia.
2. Early secretory pattern.
3. Secretory or hypersecretory pattern.
4. Regenerative, proliferative or nonsecretory pattern.
5. Monstrous cell pattern.

History

It was first described by Javier Arias Stella, a Peruvian pathologist, in 1954.^[2]

See also

• Choriocarcinoma
• Chorioangioma
• Herpes
• Nuclear atypia

Molar ectopic

References

Bibliography

• Textbook of Obstetrics by D.C. Dutta Page no. 180.

Notes and References

1. Arias-Stella . J. . The Arias-Stella reaction: facts and fancies four decades after. . Adv Anat Pathol . 9 . 1 . 12–23 . Jan 2002 . 10.1097/00125480-200201000-00003. 11756756 . 26249687 .
2. Arias-Stella . J. . Atypical endometrial changes associated with the presence of chorionic tissue. . Arch Pathol . 58 . 2 . 112–28 . Aug 1954 . 13170908 .