PREVALENCE OF CERVICITIS, RESERVE CELL HYPERPLASIA, SQUAMOUS METAPLASIA, AND CERVICAL DYSPLASIA IN JEWISH WOMEN

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (5) , 587-591
Abstract
The prevalence of cervicitis, reserve cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia and dysplasia was studied in Jewish women and compared to that reported elsewhere in non-Jewish populations. The study was based on a histologic review of 250 women whose cervices were clinically normal or who presented with minor changes, and 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. The prevalence of the above-mentioned histologic features in the 2 groups of Jewish women is similar to that observed in comparable groups of non-Jews. It thus appears that in a majority of Jewish women the histologic spectrum leading to cervical cancer unexplicably stops at the dysplastic stage. The results of this study may cast doubt on the well-documented evidence establishing dysplasia as a precancerous lesion.