Cervix

Benign / nonneoplastic epithelial lesions

Atrophy



Last author update: 6 November 2006
Last staff update: 17 July 2023

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PubMed search: Cervix cytology atrophy

Farnaz Hasteh, M.D.
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Cite this page: Hasteh F. Atrophy. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cervixcytologyatrophy.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • May resemble SIL
  • Increased number of basal and parabasal cells, associated with diagnosis of ASCUS
Clinical features
Prognostic factors
Treatment
  • Estrogen will cause atypical atrophic cells to mature, but dysplastic cells will not respond (Cancer 1998;84:218)
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • No atypia in upper epithelial layers, no mitotic figures
  • Pseudokoilocytosis, immature but bland epithelium
  • May resemble urothelial metaplasia
  • May have focal nuclear enlargement and hyperchromasia
  • Cells have prominent intercellular bridges
  • Nuclei are uniform, evenly spaced, often elongated with grooves
Cytology description
  • Increased number of parabasal cells and basal cells, which form sheets and syncytial-like aggregates or hyperchromatic crowded groups
  • Naked nuclei (small cells) may be seen
  • Cells have high N/C ratio but uniform chromatin
  • Pseudokeratinized cells (pink to orangophilic cytoplasm) are due to degeneration
  • Severe atrophy can show dirty background with inflammation, debris, old blood, blue blobs and giant cells
  • In liquid based cytology, background of atrophic smear is cleaner
  • May resemble urothelial metaplasia, but cells have prominent intercellular bridges
  • Nuclei are uniform, evenly spaced, often elongated with grooves
Cytology images

Contributed by Marilin Rosa, M.D.

Atrophic sheet



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