title: Clinical significance of hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis in otherwise negative Papanicolaou smears.
abstract: To ascertain the clinical significance of hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis in otherwise negative Papanicolaou smears, we retrospectively reviewed 96 patients with these findings seen during a 32-month period. Evaluation included repeating the smear and performing colposcopy in all patients. Colposcopically directed biopsy and endocervical curettage were performed when appropriate. Only one patient had human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The isolated finding of hyperkeratosis or parakeratosis was not associated with an increased incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or HPV and, clinically, was not associated with uterine descensus or vaginal prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sorosky
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wheelock
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Podczaski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000473:pathology*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010241:Parakeratosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears