Severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ of the vagina.

Papanicolaou smears for early detection of carcinoma in situ of the cervix has been a well-recognized method of screening patients for over 30 years. The necessity for Papanicolaou smears following hysterectomy, especially for benign disease, has been a controversial subject. Twenty-two cases of carcinoma in situ of the vagina, over a period of 18 years, at the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California, are presented. Ninety-five percent of the lesions were first suspected by use of the Papanicolaou smears. Approximately half of previous hysterectomies were performed for benign disease. The various methods of treatment employed and the complications in these patients are discussed.