The Significance of Macronuclei in Screening of Cervical Cancer

Patten has stated that the largest nuclear area of cervical epidermoid carcinoma cells is 120μ2, while Reagan, in the same way, has described the nuclear area of adenocarcinoma cells to be 165.4μ2. In our 146, 492 specimens, we have found, in excoriated sample taken from the cervix of the uterus of 10 female patients, cells with swollen bare macronucleus, 30μ in diameter. Although we did not recognize any other typical malignant cells, we presumed these cells should be treated class IIIb in Papanicolaou's criteria. Although we were unable to arrive at a final diagnosis even after close examination by punch biopsy and curettage curettage of the cervix, the same findings were observed after repeated cytological tests. After consultation with patients, conization or simple hysterectomy was done to take specimen for further close examination. We found the existence of foci of epidermoid neoplasia at a depth of 1.5-2.0cm from the external os of uterus. We wish to make this known as it seems necessary to recognize it as a cell pattern of neoplasia developing in the cervix of an aged female, and that the macronucleus seen here may have been more or less modified by degeneration.