COEXISTENCE OF NEURAL PROLIFERATIONS WITH EARLY EPITHELIAL NEOPLASIASAND BENIGN ECTOPIAS OF THE UTERINE CERVIX

Objective: The study wanted to test the hypothesis that stromal system s can influence the development of the epithelium. Method: The stroma of specimens obtained by conizations of the cervix was histologically investigated. Results: Neural proliferations such as neuromas, neurofi bromas and vascular neurofibromatoses were found. They were common in the presence of epithelial neoplasias (168 of 203 cases) but much less so (8 of 21 cases) with benign epithelial lesions. Conclusion: Thus, the frequency of neural proliferations correlated with the nature of t he epithelial abnormality. This association argues against the convent ional concept that the growth of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias i s absolutely autonomous.