Uterine cervix: chronic radiation effect


Drs. Prolla and Diehl's INTERESTING CASE OF THE MONTH November 2002 answer

Papanicolaou staining, very large cells, with hyperchromatic nuclei

Papanicolaou staining, cytoplasmic vacuolization

Papanicolaou staining, cytoplasmic biphasic staining, multinucleation

Papanicolaou staining, aberrant cell shape: spindle cells

The atrophic cells show chronic radiation effects: aberrant cell shapes (spindle cells) and nuclear and cytoplasmic enlargement (giant cells) are seen. Nuclear hyperchromasia: but the chromatin is homogeneously distributed. Multinucleation, nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolization and a cytoplasmic biphasic staining pattern are seen. The background is clean. These findings suggest chronic radiation effect and not local recurrence. The follow up smear six years later shows the same pattern. This persistence of the radiation changes for several years is common.
Cytological follow up of cases treated by radiotherapy is done primarily to detect local recurrence and not to assess radiation therapy responsiveness.


References List of cases Atlas
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