The prevalence of cervicitis, reserve cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, and cervical dysplasia in Jewish women.

The prevalence of cervicitis, reserve cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, and dysplasia was studied in Jewish women and compared to that reported elsewhere in non-Jewish populations. The study was based on a histologic review of 250 women whose cervices were clinically either normal or presented with minor changes, and of 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. The findings indicate that the prevalence of the above-mentioned histologic features in the 2 groups of Jewish women is similar to that observed in comparable groups of non-Jews. It thus appears that in a majority of Jewish women the histologic spectrum leading to cervical cancer unexplicably stops at the dysplastic stage. On the other hand, the results of this study may possibly cast doubt on the well-documented evidence establishing dysplasia as a pre-cancerous lesion. For further elucidation of these problems cytologic studies in matched Jewish and non-Jewish populations will be carried out.