title: Detection of bacterial vaginosis in Papanicolaou smears.
abstract: In a prospective study of 145 women, bacterial vaginosis was clinically diagnosed in 46 women. Compared with clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, detection of so-called clue cells in Papanicolaou smears showed a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 97%. The positive and negative predictive values were 94% and 95%, respectively. The study results indicate that demonstration of clue cells in Papanicolaou smears is a useful method for identification of women with probable bacterial vaginosis. This provides a basis for the use of archival material in retrospective studies with regard to possible links between bacterial vaginosis and development of cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital, Skövde, Sweden.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Platz-Christensen
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundström
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bondeson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology