MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN WITH POSITIVE VAGINAL CYTOLOGICAL FINDINGS

The authors have acquired experience with many thousands of cytological examinations of the cervix by obtaining smears from all gynecologic and obstetric patients. They are convinced that every woman deserves a cytological examination on the first visit, regardless of age or whether or not she is pregnant. The evidence indicates that positive cytological findings in the pregnant patient are fully as significant as in the nonpregnant. Punch biopsy is done in all cases of cervical lesions. When a histological diagnosis of intraepithelial carcinoma is made or when there is an unexplained positive smear, a cold conization of the cervix is performed. With the expanding number of such examinations, there are large groups of women who have positive findings on cytological examination and in whom frank malignancy does not exist. Management of these patients looms as the newest challenge gynecology has to meet.