Colposcopic and histologic findings in cervical chlamydial infection

Colposcopic and histologic findings in 41 patients with Chlamydia trachomatis-associated cervicitis and in age-matched controls with nonspecific cervicitis are presented. Colposcopy showed exophytic follicular cervicitis in 30 patients in the chlamydia group and in none in the control group. Atypical transformation zone occurred significantly more often in the chlamydia group. Directed biopsy specimens revealed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in 10 cases in the chlamydial group but in only 1 case in the control group. In 4 patients with chlamydial cervicitis lymphoid follicles were observed in histologic specimens.