Cytology of gynecologic condyloma acuminatum

The morphology of certain cell types often encountered in vaginal and cervical smears of condyloma patients are described. These cells, considered to be exfoliated from epithelium affected by condyloma virus, were found in 60 per cent of the smears obtained from 192 women with condylomatat acuminata. Dysplasia of the cervical and vaginal epithelium is frequently associated with condyloma. Structural features typical of the condylomatous epithelium were common in these dysplasias. These lesions are probably also due to infection by condyloma virus, yet their significance is unknown and the possibility of a precancerous status cannot be ruled out except by a very long term follow-up study which is in progress. It may be assumed that this virus may affect the cervical and vaginal epithelium without any typical papillary condylomatous lesions resulting. Even in the absence of typical condylomatous papillary formations, the cytologic findings may reveal condyloma infection.