Anatomically, the surface of the cervix is divided into the outer (vaginal) part, covered with squamous epithelium and the inner part - the cervical canal, where the epithelial layer has a cylindrical shape. The transition line (transformation zone) is located at the external uterine pharynx or can shift to the vaginal side. The epithelial lining of this zone is especially susceptible to dysplastic and malignant transformations.
For the timely and early diagnosis of various atypical degenerations of the CM epithelium, an analysis of the surface cellular composition is performed. 72 hours before it, intravaginal administration of any drugs, creams, ointments, contraceptives, disinfectants is excluded. Sexual contact is prohibited per day. In relation to the menstrual cycle, the smear is performed from 5 to 20-25 days, but no later than 4-5 days before the possible start of the next cycle.
The procedure involves the collection of biological material using special spatulas, from which the resulting smears are transferred onto a glass slide, marked and sent to the laboratory. After examining the glasses under a microscope, the diagnostician describes the elements found in the conclusion.
There are three main options:
Cells suspected of atypia or cancer are absent. However, this does not exclude the presence of atrophy, inflammation, pathogenic microorganisms, which must be indicated;
Minor atypical changes are present;
Cellular structures with a high degree of atypia, up to carcinoma.
In all cases, intravariant gradations (CIN I - III, cancer "in situ", type of carcinoma) are described in detail.
Given the high sensitivity of cytology, this method makes it possible to detect a number of gynecological diseases even at the stage of the absence of symptoms (zero or the first according to oncological classification), when the effectiveness of treatment reaches almost 100%.
The absence of pathologically altered cells does not exclude the annual visit to the gynecologist and repeated cytological examination of the cervical scraping.
