Herxheimer spiral in cervico-vaginal smears

Abstract

The morpholic features and an incidence of Herxherimer spiral (HS) have not been well described. We reviewed the cervico-vaginal smears of 111 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 3480 benign cases. HS was observed in 18.0% of the cases of squamous cell carcinomas and in 0.34% the of benign cases. HS was present in the cell processes of spindle and/or tadpole type tumor cells of squamous cell carcinoma. In bening cases it was seen in metaplastic cells. The presence of HS may mean an abnormal differentiation of squamous cells or squamous cell carcinoma, but the diagnstic value of HS seems to be poor.