Female Genital System

Pyosalpinx

Outer aspect of pyosalpinx.
Cut surface of pyosalpinx; the tube is distended with yellow pus

Tubo-ovarian abscess

Fusion of fallopian tube and ovary into a tubo-ovarian abscess.

Tubo-ovarian abscess/acute salpingitis

This is an example of a tubo-ovarian abscess from Neisseria gonorrheae. Gonorrhea leads to several complications in the female genital tract, including acute inflammation with abscess formation as well as chronic inflammation with tubal scarring (and a greater likelihood of ectopic pregnancy) and pelvic inflammatory disease. Here, there is no clear boundary between tube and ovary and the dilated tube is filled with purulent material.
A remnant of tubal epithelium is seen here surrounded and infiltrated by numerous neutrophils. This is acute salpingitis. Neisseria gonorrheae was cultured.

Chronic salpingitis: A, blunting of villi due to heavy inflammatory infiltrate.

Chronic salpingitis
marked secondary reactive hyperplasia of the mucosa, which may simulate a malignant process.