CYTOLOGIC FINDINGS IN RECTOVAGINAL FISTULAS

This study was designed to evaluate the cytologic components in vagina l smears from women with rectovaginal fistulae and consisted of smears from 23 women. The etiology of the fistulae was complications of irra diation (14 cases), neoplasms (7 cases) and pelvic abscess or inflamma tion (2 cases). Thirteen cases (15 smears) contained benign colonic ce lls compatible with rectovaginal fistulae; 10 cases (17 smears) did no t. Fecal material was present in 7 cases, 5 of which also contained co lonic glandular cells. Changes of irradiation were noted in 2 cases an d reparative changes in 2 others. In the 7 patients with carcinoma, ma lignant cells were present in 2 cases of fistulae due to colonic adeno carcinomas. In this study, rectovaginal fistulae could be documented i n vaginal cytology in 65% of patients with the condition.