Cytomorphologic appearances of normal endometrial cells during different phases of the menstrual cycle: A cytologic approach to endometrial dating

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Abstract
From 1988 to 1992, 156 endometrial cytologic preparations were procured by directly brushing hysterectomy specimens from premenopausal women with normal endometrium and regular menstruation. These brushing smears were obtained by using the cyto‐brush and/or the endometrial brush. The cytologic findings were correlated with histologic endometrial dating. Of these, 56 cases were classified as proliferative phase endometrium; 89, secretory phase; and 11, menstrual phase. The cytomorphologic features of endometrial glandular and stromal cells at different stages of the menstrual cycle are summarized and compared. On the basis of the different cytomorphologic features of glandular and stromal cells seen during various phases of the cycle, cytologic differentiation between proliferative phase and secretory phase endometria can be readily established. It appears possible to date the endometrium by direct endometrial brushing technique. It is also possible to determine if the glandular and/or stromal cells seen in the endocervical smears procured by the cytobrush are normal endometrial cells from cytobrush extraction, and are consistent with the date of the menstrual cycle, which should be made clear in the cytology report.