title: Evaluation of patients with Behçet's disease by cervical cytology and colposcopic examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the genital involvement in women with Behçet's disease (BD) by cervical cytology and colposcopy, and compared these findings with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 152 women were referred to the Gynecology Clinic of Meram School of Medicine between March 2008 and December 2009. The study group was composed of 78 women with BD, and the control group included 74 healthy women admitted for routine gynecologic examination. These patients were subjected to cervical cytology and colposcopic examination. Cervical biopsy was performed in cases with abnormal cytology. These findings and some gynecologic complaints were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographic features were similar between each group. Genital involvement (scar + ulcer) was detected in 58 (74.3%) patients. The most common sites of ulcers (55.1%) and scars (7.6%) were the labia majora. Abnormal cytology in study and control groups was detected in nine (11.5%) and three (4%) of the patients, respectively, and a slight statistical significance was obtained (p = 0.048). Acetowhite and iodine-negative epithelium were higher in the study group than in controls (p = 0.015 and p = 0.042). Dyspareunia was higher in BD patients (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with BD are more prone to having an abnormal cervical cytology and acetowhite and iodine-negative epithelium on colposcopic examination. However, these findings are mostly benign conditions. The complaint of dyspareunia should be considered during treatment of female patients with BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34093 Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. snmstf@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Suna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balevi
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toy
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kamış
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult