Cervical cytology

Author: Mikael Häggström

Adequacy

Adequacy should always be stated, either as "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory". For estimating the number of cells, determine the following:

• The area of your field of view at high power (see the Evaluation chapter)
• The total size of the relevant area on the microscope slide.
• Look at 10 representative high power fields (HPFs) within that area, and calculate the average number of cells per high power field.

Total number of cells = Average number of cells per HPF *

Total size of area HPF area

Eventually you will be able to tell when most cases are adequate or inadequate without performing a detailed calculation.

Also state whether the endocervical/transformation zone is present or absent. Count an endocervical component as present if there are 10 or more endocervical or squamous metaplastic cells.

Very common findings

• Bacterial flora (usually rod-shaped Lactobacilli), does not need reporting
  Bacterial flora (usually rod-shaped Lactobacilli), does not need reporting
• A clue cell, covered in bacteria, as compared to an unremarkable squamous cell at bottom left, and a neutrophil at bottom center. Pap stain. A significant amount of clue cells can be reported as "Shift in vaginal flora suggestive of bacterial vaginosis".
  A clue cell, covered in bacteria, as compared to an unremarkable squamous cell at bottom left, and a neutrophil at bottom center. Pap stain. A significant amount of clue cells can be reported as "Shift in vaginal flora suggestive of bacterial vaginosis".

Main conditions to exclude or confirm

Squamous atypia, seen mainly as cells with increased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, nuclear hyperchromasia and irregular nuclear outline.

• Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), with only few slightly atypical cells
  Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), with only few slightly atypical cells
• Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), here compared to an unremarkable intermediate squamous cell.
  Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), here compared to an unremarkable intermediate squamous cell.
• 
  High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), showing even more prominent features, and decreased cytoplasm, causing a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio.

Report

Example in a normal case:

Cervical/endocervical ThinPrep: Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM).

Main page

• Main page of Patholines