title: Cytology for the detection of early recurrence of gynecologic cancer in the vaginal vault.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The real benefit of follow-up cervical cytology in women treated for gynecological cancer is unclear. This study was designed to assess the rate of success of cytological examinations in the detection of early vaginal recurrence of gynecological cancer in women found by other methods to have vaginal recurrence of cervical and endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of cytological examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three women treated for early and invasive cervical and endometrial cancer with recurrence in the vaginal vault were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records from 1979 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen women (48.5%) had symptomatic vaginal recurrence associated with distant metastases, whereas 17 (51.5%) had vaginal recurrence only. Cytology was negative in 12 women (36.4%) with both symptomatic and asymptomatic recurrence and positive in the other 21 (63.6%). In 9 of these 21 women (42.9%), the disease was limited to the vaginal vault, whereas the remaining 12 (57.1%) presented with vaginal lesions associated with distant metastases. Cytology was positive in 9 of the 17 (52.9%) women whose recurrence was limited to the vaginal vault and negative in 8 (47.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaginal cytology yielded false-negative results in almost half of the women with vaginal recurrence of gynecological cancer. Patents of methods used for early diagnosis and detection of immortalization of cervical cancer are also reviewed in this article.
authors.forename: Lucia A S
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Jurandyr M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Av. Bandeirantes, 3900. Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP, 14049-900, Brazil. luciaalvess@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Francisco J C
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*