Endocervical metaplasias and their association with glandular and squamous abnormalities

The presence of endocervical metaplasias and their association with cervical squamous and glandular neoplasias were studied.

Cervical specimens were examined microscopically to identify the presence of glandular metaplasias. The type of cervical neoplastic abnormality, when present, also was recorded. Statistical analyses of the microscopical findings included frequency observation counts and contingency analysis (Fisher's exact test).

One hundred eighty-seven cervices were examined. Diagnoses included adenocarcinoma (8), adenocarcinoma in situ (14), glandular dysplasia (4), squamous carcinoma (2) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (78); 4 cervices had combined squamous and glandular abnormalities. Eighty-seven had no evidence of cervical neoplasias. The glandular metaplasias were tubal (79 ciliated cell, 3 eosinophilic cell) and intestinal (22); 14 cases had combined tubal and intestinal metaplastic change. Ninety-seven cervices had no evidence of glandular metaplasia. Intestinal metaplasia was intimately associated (p = .0002) with neoplastic changes, particularly glandular abnormalities. Ciliated cell metaplasia also was associated with glandular or squamous abnormalities (p < .04), but more than one-third of specimens with this metaplasia had no associated abnormality.

A high degree of association exists between cervical intestinal glandular metaplasia and cervical glandular and squamous neoplasias. Patients with this metaplastic change should be followed up closely if no associated lesion is found initially.