title: Cytologic findings in pap smears with Actinomyces-like organisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect whether there is a relationship between the presence ofActinomyces-like organisms (ALOs) and cytologic findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papanicolaou-stained smears from 2290 women were examined cytologically. Nineteen (0.83%) of the 2290 were diagnosed with ALOs and became the study group. Patients without infectious agents (n=1792) were the control group. Statistical analyses were conducted with the chi2 test using the SPSS program (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study and control groups were compared statistically. There was a significant correlation between the presence of ALOs and other cytologic findings, such as Trichomonas vaginalis, cocci, pseudoeosinophilia, endocervical cells, superficial cells, lactobacilli and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (p < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between the presence of ALOs and metaplastic cells, parabasal cells or nuclear changes (p > 0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALOs in cervicovaginal smears might provide a milieu for growing some infectious agents, such as Trichomonas vaginalis and cocci. Lactobacilli were less plentiful in these cases. Vaginal discharge and abdominal pain were also important clinicalfindings for the detection ofALOs. Another finding was long-term usage of intrauterine contraceptive devices, which can cause the overgrowth of ALOs in vaginal mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe Uni-Ankara, Turkey versity, Ankara, Turkey. sayeste@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Sayeste
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirezen
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beksaç
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D014626:Vaginal Smears