[Behavior of SCC marker level in cervix erosion, cervix dysplasia and cervical pre-invasive carcinoma]

The work presents the results of studies on the behaviour of SCC antigen in 52 patients aged 21-70 years, with pathologic changes involving the uterine cervix and classified to the groups of erosion, dysplasia and carcinoma in different stage of advancement. The SCC antigen was determined in patients blood sera by radioimmunologic method, on the basis of Abbott Firm testes. An increase in concentration was observed exceed the norm (2 ng/ml) in cases of CIN and CIS. The rise of marker depended on the stage of the neoplastic process advancement in the uterine cervix.

[Hormone dependent, functional gynecologic morphology in infancy and adolescence presented on the example of the cervix uteri]

Signs of different activities in the dynamic morphology of the epithelium and mucus of the cervix uteri are demonstrated in the female fetus, newborn, child and adolescent. Besides the morphological description of the ectropium, transitional zone, s.c. "reserve-cells", squamous cell nodes and production and secretion of mucus other investigations were done by allometry, caryometry and histochemistry. The examinations allow insight into the hormonal activities specially of the estrogenes in different periods of female life.

The respective roles of cytology and colposcopy in obstetric and gynecologic practice

The use of cytology in evaluating the state of the uterine cervix is well recognized and accepted in the United States. The role of colposcopy has not been completely defined although its acceptance is slowly gaining ground in many clinics. It is the purpose of this article to compare the two methods and to discuss the relationship of these methods to each other. Most attention will be directed to cytology and colposcopy of the cervix. However, the applications of both methods to evaluation of the vulva and vagina will also be considered.

Gynaecological abnormalities found at a cytology clinic

A survey was made of abnormalities found on pelvic examination of 2,656 women who attended for cervical smears in the three years 1967-9. Eight women had malignant cells in their smears, and 68 women pelvic tumours, four of them malignant. Severe vulvitis was common in women over 46. Many of the women who had non-malignant conditions were treated though they had no complaints. They were among the most appreciative and subsequently sought out the clinic staff to thank them. It is important that a full examination should be made by an experienced gynaecologist.

Eroded cervix

During a six-year period 1,808 women aged 20 to 59 underwent gynaecological examination at a well-woman clinic. Cervical erosions were found in 269. Nine patients had cervical carcinoma, confirmed by biopsy; of these eight had eroded cervices. The remaining patients with non-malignant erosions were examined at six-monthly intervals. Of these, roughly 39% showed spontaneous healing within a year, 31% responded to medical treatment, 17% healed only after surgical treatment, 9% remained unhealed when reviewed six months after the last active treatment, and 4% relapsed after originally healing well.The difficulties of getting patients to return for cytological examination increase with the interval between the original examination and recall. It is suggested that patients should be re-examined initially at an interval not exceeding six months, so that false negative results are minimal.