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Cyanophilic Superficial Cells During Stilbestrol Administration in Patients with Estrogen-Deficient Vaginal Cytograms

Air-Dried Smears and Rapid Modified Papanicolaou Technic

Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

Abstract

A technic of vaginal cytosmears, using smears air-dried and unfixed prior to staining, has been adopted for hormonal cytology in gynecologic endocrine problems. A shortened modified Papanicolaou staining method has been described. The increased number of cyanophilic superficial cells represents a transitional stage occurring during vaginal epithelial proliferation and regression, as demonstrated in females with estrogenic deficiency by administration of minute amounts of stilbestrol. Such cyanophilic superficial cells are a distinct entity and should be identified and classified in cytogram reports. Tinctorial differentiation is necessary to distinguish cyanophilic from eosinophilic superficial cells. Only by this means can a relative increase in the former be recognized