Cytological characteristics of premalignant cervical epithelial lesions in postmenopausal women based on endocrine indices and parakeratosis

ObjectiveTo identify useful cytological findings for detecting premalignant lesions in postmenopausal women, cervicovaginal smear samples were analyzed and compared between women with or without premalignant lesions based on endocrine indices and presence of parakeratosis (PK).MethodsThe cervicovaginal smear samples of postmenopausal women with premalignant lesions (n = 94) and those who were without (n = 344), who were diagnosed between 2012 and 2014 were retrieved and analyzed. Women cytologically diagnosed with malignancy or those with suspicion of malignancy were excluded from this study. Cytological endocrine indices, such as the maturation index (MI) and eosinophilic index (EI) and the prevalence of PK were compared between the groups and analyzed using the 2 x 2 chi(2) test. The association of endocrine indices combined with the presence of PK and histological findings was also evaluated.ResultsPostmenopausal women with premalignant lesions had higher endocrine indices (EI of >= 11%; 65% vs. 43%, P < 0.01, f = 0.18) and a higher prevalence of PK positivity (PK >= 1; 46% vs. 7%, P < 0.01, f = 0.44) than those without lesions. Further analysis indicated that the combination of high EI and the presence of PK in postmenopausal women with cytological premalignant cases was highly associated with histological squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) (86% in women with premalignant lesions vs. 53% in those without; P = 0.01, f = 0.34).ConclusionOur research demonstrated that high EI and PK positivity were correlated with SIL in postmenopausal women. These cytological findings could provide potential diagnostic clues for detecting dysplasia.