Russell body cervicitis: A case report and literature review highlighting diagnostic pitfalls

Russell bodies have been observed in various inflammatory and neoplastic conditions, although their presence in the female genital tract is rare, with fewer than ten documented cases of Russell body cervicitis. This case report appears to be the first of Russell body cervicitis identified during pregnancy. A 28-year-old woman, at 20 weeks of gestation, underwent a cervical polypectomy after a polyp was detected incidentally during a cervical cerclage procedure. Pathological examination revealed an inflamed endocervical polyp with predominant plasma cell infiltrate. Most of the plasma cells contained intracytoplasmic Russell bodies and there were some Mott cells. Immunohistochemical stains confirmed the polyclonal nature of the plasma cell infiltrate.

This report highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with Russell body cervicitis, given its rarity and histological resemblance to other inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. A review of the literature reveals that the few reported cases presented as a non-neoplastic process during reproductive age, with an uneventful follow-up. This report contributes to the limited knowledge of Russell body cervicitis, particularly in the context of pregnancy.