THE DETECTION OF ENDOCERVICAL GLAND INVOLVEMENT BY HIGH-GRADE SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS IN SMEARS PREPARED FROM ENDOCERVICAL BRUSH SPECIMENS

The cytologic features of squamous cell carcinoma in situ with endocer vical gland involvement have been described in cervical smears, We eva luated the presence of two types of cellular fragments in 43 cervical smears of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) to asses s their ability to predict glandular involvement by HGSIL in subsequen t cone biopsies. An endocervical brush was used to obtain all endocerv ical specimens, Of 16 cases without glandular involvement, fragments w ere present in 13 smears. Of 27 cases with glandular involvement, frag ments were absent in 11 smears. No statistical association was identif ied between the presence of abnormal cellular fragments on cervical sm ears of HGSIL and endocervical gland involvement on cone biopsies.