RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EPITHELIAL ABNORMALITIES AND THE COMPOSITION OF CERVICAL SMEARS

Abstract

The significance of endocervical columnar cells as a high-quality parameter of cervical smears was studied. In a cohort of women with 7 successive screening [for cancer] the consistency of the cellular composition of the cervical smears and the relation between the cellular composition of the smears and the frequency of the diagnosis of abnormal epithelial changes was investigated. At the 1st screening, a significantly higher number of epithelial abnormalities was found in smears with endocervical columnar cells than in smears without endocervical columnar cells. A significantly higher number of abnormal epithelial change was found on the 2nd screening in smears from women whose smears from the 1st screening did not contain endocervical columnar cells than in smears from women whose smears from the 1st screening did contain endocervical columnar cells. The presence of endocervical cells should be considered a very important indicator of the quality of cervical smears. The chance of missing an abnormal epithelial change is increased in smears without endocervical columnar cells. When endocervical columnar cells are absent, the smear should be considered to be of unreliable quality and a repeat smear should be taken after a short interval, unless the absence of columnar cells can be satisfactorily explained.