Exfoliative cyto-diagnosis of sarcoma botryoides of the uterine cervix

Abstract

Exfoliated malignant cells of vaginal smears in three cases of botryoid sarcoma of the cervix were observed.Two cases were diagnosed as positive and another was suspicious.Cytology disclosed marked celluar atypism as well as nuclear atypism. Tumor cells showed oval or spindel-shaped cytoplasma with fairly defined celluar border. Nuclear chromatin was slighty increased and irregularly distributed. Prominent, giant nucleoli noted in the majority tumor cells were characteristic.Most of the tumor cells were separated. Small groups of the tumor cells were occasionally observed without cellular overlapping typically found in cases of adenocarcinoma.The cytologic findings were compared with histo logic findings of the resected specimens Myxoma tous changes were common in these botryoid. tumors. Because of this change, it appered difficult to decide whether exfoliated tumor cells were malignant or not.