[The role of cytological studies in evaluating the severity of dysplasia during prophylactic gynecological examinations (cooperative study)].

Cytologic examination of scrapings from the uterine cervix was carried out in 498 patients in whom moderate or severe dysplasia of the squamous epithelium or suspicion for cancer were established in the course of gynecologic screening. The said pathology was diagnosed in 0.63% of screeneses. Cytologic follow-up of 57 cases of severe dysplasia established that, in patients over 40 years of age, it tended to progress to Ca in situ. This tendency was registered within 6-36 months and continued after a second biopsy. Severe dysplasia did not recur in the 20-40 year-old group. The extent of cervical biopsy (excision or conization) in severe dysplasia should be considered versus patients' age.