Studies on Cytological Anomalies of Microbial Co-infections in Cervical Lesions

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second commonest female cancer worldwide after breast cancer. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common and necessary cause for cervical cancer development. But due to specific inflammations made by other sexually transmitted/parasitic/microbial infections like Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Wuchereria bancrofti and Candida albicans, the changes in cellular feature and its association with the development of the cervical lesions were not clear. The aim of the study was to finding out the association between lower genital tract infection and cervical exfoliative cytology. Result showed the mean (mean ± sd) age of the women was 36.8 ± 7.7 years with range 30–60 years. Women of age 30–40 years have significantly (p = 0.01) high microbial infection than the negative group. Women who were of younger age at the time of marriage (< 18 years) were having high microbial infection. We found high microbial infection in ASCUS (86.1% 62/72) than normal cytology of cervix (72.9%, 35/48), LSIL (35.2%, 12/34), HSIL (24.1%, 7/29) and SCC (11.7%, 2/17). 59.0% (118/200) were reported to be with microbial infections in their pap smear. 52.5% (62/118) of the women were having TV infection. TV infection was more prevalent than other microbial infections. Due to microbial infections, cytoplasmic halos, binucleation, nuclear enlargement, nuclear pyknosis and karyorrhexis were seen. There is an association between lower genital tract infection and cervical exfoliative cytology made by microbes/STIs/parasites. Due to specific inflammation, the cellular feature of the normal cell has changed and may develop cervical lesions.