OBJECTIVE: The present study attempted to find out possible coherence between morphologic characteristics in Pap smears and bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by DEXA. STUDY DESIGN: DEXA measurement (with the result expressed as T-score) was performed in 79 women in whom Pap smears for routine cervical cancer screening were obtained. The smears were grouped into atrophic and mature cell patterns. Using astereological analysis, the mean areas of squamous cells, their nuclei and cytoplasm were estimated. RESULTS: The mean areas of cells and cytoplasm were significantly lower at lower T-scores (P < 0.01), while the mean areas of nuclei were not (P > 0.5). T-scores were significantly lower in the atrophic cell pattern group (P < 0.001). The study group indicated concurrently high sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 78.1%, with positive predictive value of 84.4%. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a significant number of women with low BMD could be identified parallel with the routine Pap test for cervical cancer screening without additional costs.
OBJECTIVE: The present study attempted to find out possible coherence between morphologic characteristics in Pap smears and bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by DEXA. STUDY DESIGN: DEXA measurement (with the result expressed as T-score) was performed in 79 women in whom Pap smears for routine cervical cancer screening were obtained. The smears were grouped into atrophic and mature cell patterns. Using astereological analysis, the mean areas of squamous cells, their nuclei and cytoplasm were estimated. RESULTS: The mean areas of cells and cytoplasm were significantly lower at lower T-scores (P < 0.01), while the mean areas of nuclei were not (P > 0.5). T-scores were significantly lower in the atrophic cell pattern group (P < 0.001). The study group indicated concurrently high sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 78.1%, with positive predictive value of 84.4%. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a significant number of women with low BMD could be identified parallel with the routine Pap test for cervical cancer screening without additional costs.