Cytologic detection of tuberculous cervicitis: a report of 7 cases.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous infection, which is now uncommon in western society, is still frequently observed in Third World countries like Africa and India. The cervix is involved in 5-10% of cases in female genital tract tuberculosis. Tuberculous involvement of the female genital tract in almost all cases is secondary to extragenital tuberculosis. There is a relative immunity of the cervix to tuberculosis. Cervical tuberculosis is considered to be rare, and a few well-documented cases of tuberculous cervicitis have been described. Cases of tuberculous cervicitis are often clinically diagnosed as carcinoma of the cervix since the punctation and mosaic pattern observed on colposcopic examination leads to an erroneous impression of malignancy.

CASES: Seven cases, clinically suspected to be carcinoma of the cervix, were diagnosed as tuberculous cervicitis from cervical smears.

CONCLUSION: Cases of tuberculous cervicitis can mimic cervical cancer, and those cases should be evaluated carefully for accurate diagnosis and proper management of this nonneoplastic condition of the cervix, especially in developing countries where tuberculosis is endemic.