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Abstract
The selective cytology technique was developed in our search for a method of studying
evidence of cancer growth in the cells which become earliest involved in cervical
cancer.
The squamous cells encircling the tiny cervical opening at the squamocolumnar junction
constitute a key point of origin for cancer more frequently than any other single
focus in the female body.
The spatula test offers a technique providing “surface biopsy” information of these
cells prior to their actual desquamation. (Other cytology techniques depend upon detection
of cells already exfoliated into body secretions for cancer diagnosis).
By study of these cells in selective cytology smears, morphologic changes have been
identified believed to constitute a precancer cell-complex. Many of these so-called
precancer cases have shown clinically normal cervices.
Biopsies have verified suspicious nature of lesions.
The selective cytology technique has been found to be more accurate as an indicator
of endogenous estrogen by cornification counts in smears from the cervix and vagina
in cancer cases. The previous aspiration method failed to reveal the true cornification
level because of excessive amounts of blood and leucocytes obscuring the picture.
Selective cytology may be used in the diagnosis of any accessible surface cancer,
e.g., tongue, lip, throat, skin, and vulva, while cytological cancer diagnosis of
other organs, e.g., stomach, lung, prostate, kidney, and bladder, must depend upon
other cytology techniques recently developed.
Through early diagnosis of cancer by routine cytology tests, death from cancer of
the cervix should become highly preventable.
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References
- ed. 2. Diagnosis of Cancer by Vaginal Smears. Commonwealth Fund, New York1943
- Surg., Gynec. & Obst. 1943; 77: 449
- Am. J. Obst. & Gynec. 1946; 51: 743
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Ayre, J. E.: Awaiting publication.
Article Info
Footnotes
☆Aided by a grant from the Ortho Research Foundation, Linden, N. J.
Identification
Copyright
© 1947 Published by Elsevier Inc.
