title: False-positive squamous cell carcinoma in cervical smears: cytologic-histologic correlation in 19 cases.
abstract: Cytologic features of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) can mimic those of invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. We compare and correlate the cytological findings of 19 false-positive squamous-cell carcinomas with follow-up cone biopsies or hysterectomy specimens to define which type of dysplasia is more prone to diagnostic errors on cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Out of 128 patients diagnosed with invasive squamous-cell carcinoma from 1994-2000, 19 (14.8%) with follow-up cone biopsies or hysterectomy specimens were false-positive cases, showing only cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We reviewed tissue sections from these 19 cases of CIN for cytologic features of squamous-cell carcinoma, such as markedly pleomorphic and/or dysplastic squamous cells, necrosis, and nucleoli. Twelve of 19 patients (63%) were menopausal. The mean age was 50.5 yr. On review of cervical smears, 18 cases qualified for the cytologic diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma, keratinizing type, and one case qualified for squamous-cell carcinoma, nonkeratinizing type. Pleomorphic and/or keratinizing dysplasia was found in 15 out of 19 patients (79%), necrosis within superficial endocervical glands in 9 out of 19 patients (47%), and conspicuous nucleoli in 12 out of 19 patients (63%). One or more of these changes were seen in all but 2 patients (89%). Endocervical gland involvement was present and extensive in 18 of the 19 cases (94%). The mean age was older than expected for SIL (50.5 vs. a reported 40), and matched the mean age found in patients with invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. Pleomorphic and/or keratinizing dysplasia involving endocervical glands may exhibit the cytologic features of squamous-cell carcinoma on cervical Pap smears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016-6497, USA. Pascale.Levine@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Pascale Hummel
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Elgert
authors.forename: Khush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D019092:Conization; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014626:Vaginal Smears