Chromosome and histologic patterns in pre-invasive lesions of the cervix

The chromosome constitution and histologic appearances are described in seven cases of carcinoma in situ of the cervix in which biopsies were examined at two different time intervals. Punch biopsies were taken using colposcopic localization from the area of maximum abnormality and fragments for chromosomes analysis from cone biopsies taken with the aid of stereomicroscopy. Chromosome preparations were made using a direct squash technique. The chromosome profile and histologic appearances remained constant in six of the seven cases over time intervals varying from three months to three years. In one case the histologic, cytologic and chromosome profile changed over a five month period from a large cell peritetraploid lesion to a small cell peridiploid. The significance of these observations is discussed.