Cytologic evidence of the association of condylomatous lesions with dysplastic and neoplastic changes in the uterine cervix.

Cytologic smears were obtained from 272 women shown, during a mass screening program, to have histologically proven severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. These smears were scrutinized with special attention to the detection of the cytologic pattern recently established as diagnostic of condyloma virus infection in the genital tract. The results disclosed positive cytologic findings in a considerable percentage of the smears studied, in contrast to an absolute failure to demonstrate any cytologic evidence of the presence of genital herpesvirus infection. The frequency figures of the positive findings were in accordance with the previously established frequency figures of histologically verified condylomatous lesions, thus confirming the applicability of the cytologic criteria used. The significance of the findings is discussed in the light of cervical carcinogenesis, and the conclusion is drawn that one should seriously consider the possibility that the virus behind the condylomatous lesions is the agent responsible for, or contributing to, the development of uterine cervical carcinoma.