Goblet-like cells in atrophic vaginal smears and their histologic correlation. Possible confusion with endocervical cells.
The occurrence and origin of goblet-like cells seen between clusters of parabasal cells in atrophic vaginal smears were investigated. The goblet-like cells were cytologically identified in the vaginal smears from 23 (19.2%) of 120 patients whose smears showed an atrophic pattern, but without any inflammatory, dysplastic or malignant changes. Histologically, these cells were found in sections from 6 (18.8%) of 32 elderly women with atrophic vaginal epithelium. The goblet-like cells were situated among the squamous cells of the upper layer of the atrophic squamous epithelium from the vagina to the portio. These goblet-like cells in atrophic smears were initially misinterpreted as endocervical cells, which are regarded as a marker of smear adequacy in the cytologic screening for cancer of the uterine cervix. The correct interpretation of these goblet-like cells in smears from postmenopausal and elderly women is thus obviously important in assessing the adequacy of the sample for the detection of abnormal cells.
Koike
N
N
Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Japan.
Higuchi
T
T
Sakai
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001284:Atrophy; D001344:Autopsy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014621:Vagina / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears