Abstract
ABSTRACT
Because of a perceived failure to detect many cases of cervical condyloma, the cervical cytologic and colposcopic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 150 patients referred for colposcopy to evaluate abnormal cytology. Colposcopic findings, cytology slides, and histologic specimens were reviewed in concert. Pap smear and colposcopy were equally effective in detecting the presence of cervical condyloma (58% and 57%, respectively). The inability of the colposcope consistently to distinguish between mild dysplasia and flat condyloma, and the paucity of koilocytes on many Pap smear specimens accounted for the relatively high percentage of patients with condyloma on biopsy not detected previously. Biopsy thus remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis of subclinical HPV infection of the cervix, and Pap smear is equally as effective as colposcopy in screening for this disease.
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