Donovanosis affecting cervix, uterus, and adnexae

Abstract

Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale), a disease often related to sexual contact, has been a clinical problem in Papua New Guinea for more than 9 decades. It is a common cause of anogenital lesions in females in this country. Lesions on the cervix or vaginal vault, and extension of the disease process from the external genitalia to the uterus, tubes and ovaries, are thought to be rare. In this study an attempt was made to discover the frequency of involvement of cervix, uterus and adnexae, with or without external genital involvement, by retrospectively analyzing the histological and clinical records of patients with anogenital donovanosis for a period of 8 years (1975-1982). In 35 of 351 patients (10%), donovanosis involved the cervix. The clinical profile of these cases, certain unusual features in a few cases, and the pathological findings are discussed.