Inside the cervix, connecting its cavity with the external environment through the vagina, is the cervical canal. It is lined with cylindrical epithelial cells, in which mucus is produced to protect against the ingress of pathogenic microorganisms, and after intercourse, it serves to carry spermatozoa inside, creating a favorable liquid environment for them.
In this area, the epithelium has significant activity and is frequently renewed. Intensive processes of cell proliferation become very sensitive to pathogenic factors, under the influence of which the natural processes of differentiation are disrupted. This leads to dysplastic changes.
The diagnosis of such situations is complicated by the impossibility of their visual control: the CC lining cannot be examined without the presence of special equipment - a colposcope. But even colposcopy is not always able to determine the pathology. At the earliest stages of the lesion, visible changes in the mucous membrane may be absent. To identify such conditions, cytology is used - the collection of cellular material from the CK for morphological assessment under a microscope.
The current standard for this analysis is the "Pap test" or Pap smear, after the interpretation of which the following conclusions are indicated:
- Norm ("Pap test" is negative).
- Benign cytogram (there are inflammatory signs, an increased amount of normal desquamated epithelium, bacteria, fungi).
- Symptoms of pancreatitis (girdle pain in the epigastrium, bloating, nausea after eating and subjective improvement with fasting).
- Elements of squamous cell atypia of varying severity (low, medium, high, CIN I-III, in situ cancer, invasive carcinoma).
- Atypical glandular elements.
In the case of a normal confinement, a woman is shown an annual similar preventive examination. The second result requires anti-inflammatory and antibacterial (taking into account antibiotic sensitivity) therapy. The last two answers indicate the need for more in-depth diagnostics with repeated targeted smears, since when the diagnosis is confirmed, special treatment is immediately prescribed.
Even if malignant cells are detected, if it really happened in the early preclinical stages, the effectiveness of radical treatment reaches 100%. Moreover, if the patient wishes, her reproductive function is preserved.
Given the high prevalence of human papillomavirus among women, as the main etiological factor of cervical cancer, cytological examination of the scraping of the cervical canal is essential in the prevention and timely detection of serious gynecological diseases.
