Cytology and histopathology of cervical herpes simplex infection

Abstract

Sixty-two of approximately 40,000 patients screened for cancer by vaginal smears showed cellular changes compatible with a herpes simplex infection. Thirty-two had a cervical biopsy; 4 presented with an in situ carcinoma involving mainly the endocervical canal; 6 had squamous atypia; another 11 showed granulation tissues with acute cervicitis; 5 had a lesion histologically compatible with a herpes simplex infection and in 6 no peculiar microscopic lesion was revealed. A brief description of the cytological and histological findings are given. The possibility of a relation between cervical atypia and a herpetic genital infection should be considered.