Carcinoma in situ of the human uterine cervix in pregnancy.Prevalence and postpregnancy persistence

Abstract

HE diagnosis of carcinoma in situ of the T h uman uterine cervix during pregnancy has become a somewhat controversial matter. Some authors suggest that pregnancy per se gives rise to epithelial-cell changes resembling or identical to those found in carcinoma in situ of the cervix in the nonpregnant. I t has been stated that these epithelial alterations of the cervix arise during pregnancy and completely regress after delivery. It is implied by these statements that one should be cautious of, or avoid, making the diagnosis of carcinoma in situ in the pregnant uterus. Our studies indicate that the changes in the cervix of pregnancy that we now recognize as carrinoma in situ persist through the postpregnancy period and can be demonstrated in material from two to thirtl-one months postpregnancy. There are some lesions that present a debatable pattern in the cervix of pregnancy, but these also occur in the cervix in the absence of pregnancy and are not an evanescent stigma specifically associated with pregnancy.