Cytological diagnosis in dysplasia of the uterine cervix

Cytologic specimens presenting primarily superficial or intermediate dysplastic cells in the smear obtained by scraping the uterine cervix were defined as mild dysplasia, and those presenting primarily parabasal (or deep layer) dysplastic cells were defined as severe dysplasia. The rate of agreement of the above cytologic diagnosis to the histological diagnosis by target biopsy using the colposcope was 50% and 51% in mild and severe dysplasia, respectively. Specimens containing a few atypical cells which were strongly suspected to be malignant were classified as IIIb. From this group, malignant lesions were found in 48% and severe dysplasia in 35%.