Cervical/vaginal endometriosis with atypia: A cytohistopathologic study

Neoplastic or atypical glandular epithelial cells of uncertain significance were reported in the preoperative smears from 10 women with cervical or va ginal endometriosis. Subsequent conization and vaginal biopsy revealed endo metriotic tissue with variable epithelial atypia, but no evidence of in sit u or invasive carcinoma. Review of the smears revealed appearances similar to those seen in "high cervical sampling" or in smears from patients with t ubal metaplasia. The presence of large cohesive cell sheets with retained c ell polarity and well-defined cytoplasmic edges, of endometrial cell "whorl s" and tubular structures, and of endometrial-like stromal cells coupled wi th the absence of three-dimensional cell clusters, peripheral cell-sheet cr owding, "cell feathering," and pseudostratified cell strips are features he lpful in the distinction between cervical/vaginal endometriosis and adenoca rcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:188-193, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.