Nuclear grooves in intermediate cells in cervical smears

One thousand cervical smears from women who took part in a hospital-based s creening programme for early detection of cervical cancer were studied for the presence of nuclear grooves. Grooved nuclei were frequently detected in intermediate cells in all phases of the menstrual cycle, although their fr equency of occurrence was slightly lower in the luteal and premenstrual pha ses. The mean number of nuclear grooves varied from 3.6 to 4.2 in different phases of the menstrual cycle. The differences, however, were not statisti cally significant. The presence of nuclear grooves in cervical cells appear s to be a nonspecific finding at present.