Microridges of neoplastic cervical cells. A phase-contrast study.
Fifty consecutive cervical smears representing dysplasia, carcinoma in situ or invasive cancer were examined by phase-contrast microscopy for the presence of cells with microridges. In a majority of cases, some neoplastic cells exhibited microridges. In more advanced neoplasias, the microridges were less frequent. The absence of microridges does not appear to be a characteristic of cancer per se but may be an indicator of the degree of squamous maturation of the cell.
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D008871:Microvilli / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*