Abstract
To improve the accuracy of gynecological cytodiagnosis, we studied 214 cases, in the Showa University Hospital, that had epithelial abnormalities in uterine cervical and vaginal cytology. There was discrepancy between cytological classification and histological diagnosis in 80 cases (37.4 %) .
In cytologic examination, so-called class III cases were suspected dysplasia. Upon reassessing cytologic and histologic slides, 8 cytologic class III cases were found to be mild dysplasia that had been improperly diagnosed histologically because of inaccurate observation of histological specimens, and 34 cytologic class III cases had histological evidence of squamous cell carcinoma including 16 with carcinoma in situ.
The reasons for the discrepancy between cytology and histology were :
1. The specimens were not suitable for observation (fixation and staining errors) .
2. There were few or no cells from the lesions (sampling errors) .
3. Observation of the specimens were inadequate for exact diagnosis.
The methods of sampling, fixation and staining are important factors in preparing adequate smears for cytologic diagnosis. Furthermore, careful observation of the cytologic and histologic specimens is very important.
