Natural history of diethylstilbestrol-associated genital tract lesions: Cervical ectopy and cervicovaginal hood.

There was a marked regression of structural abnormalities associated with in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) among 173 women observed for up to 5 years. Cervical ectopy, present in 121 women at initial examination, decreased in extent in 91 women (75.2%) and disappeared completely in 38 (31.4%). The cervicovaginal hood (CVH), present initially in 123 women, diminished in 65 patients (52.8%) and disappeared completely in 35 (28.4%). The longer the follow-up period, the greater the extent of resolution of these lesions. Patients with both findings at entry into the study showed parallel diminution of ectopy and CVH. The investigation documents that DES-associated ectopy and CVH are labile lesions which tend to decrease in extent with time and may eventually disappear.