atypical vessels

atypical vessels

A term of art used by colposcopists for the appearance of blood vessels of the uterine cervix in cervical cancer. The malignant epithelium’s metabolic needs increase, which is accompanied by asymmetrical vascular proliferation, often with progressively smaller blood vessels. With invasion, the atypical vessels develop sharp angulations with cork-screw, hockey-stick or spaghetti-like patterns; the distance between vessels is often increased, resulting in bizarre patterns.

atypical vessels

Ob/Gyn Blood vessels associated with malignant epithelium with ↑ metabolic needs, accompanied by asymmetrical vascular proliferation, often associated with progressively smaller blood vessels; with invasion, AVs may have sharp angulations with cork-screw, hockey-stick or spaghetti-like patterns; the distance between vessels is often ↑, resulting in bizarre patterns