Significance of endometrial cells in cervicovaginal smears

A study was undertaken to determine the significance of finding normal endometrial cells in routine cervicovaginal smears. The results indicate that the presence of normal endometrial cells in cervicovaginal smears in patients under 40 is generally not of significance, but similar findings in older patients correlate significantly with pathologic changes in the endometrium. In the older age group, therefore, such findings clearly indicate a need for further evaluation, including tissue sampling of the endometrium.