COMPARISON OF HISTOLOGIC AND COLPOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN DES-EXPOSED FEMALES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (4) , 457-461
Abstract
A study was undertaken to evaluate the histologic alterations associated with 2 of the most abnormal colposcopic findings, mosaicism and punctation, that are commonly found in the vaginas and cervices of young women exposed prenatally to the carcinogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). Four-fifths of 215 biopsy specimens from 171 exposed subjects with mosaicism or punctation disclosed metaplastic squamous epithelium, the presence of which is thought to reflect the repair of vaginal adenosis and cervical ectropion. Hyperkeratosis was observed in 1/5 of the specimens and was more frequent in lesions colposcopically graded I than II. The findings indicate that the presence of squamous cell dysplasia cannot be predicted by the finding of grade I or II mosaicism or punctation in DES-exposed female despite the fact that these abnormal colposcopic patterns are associated with dysplasia in about 10% of cases when encountered in the cervix of the unexposed woman.