Cytologic findings in rectovaginal fistulae.

This study was designed to evaluate the cytologic components in vaginal smears from women with rectovaginal fistulae and consisted of smears from 23 women. The etiology of the fistulae was complications of irradiation (14 cases), neoplasms (7 cases) and pelvic abscess or inflammation (2 cases). Thirteen cases (15 smears) contained benign colonic cells compatible with rectovaginal fistulae; 10 cases (17 smears) did not. Fecal material was present in 7 cases, 5 of which also contained colonic glandular cells. Changes of irradiation were noted in 2 cases and reparative changes in 2 others. In the 7 patients with carcinoma, malignant cells were present in 2 cases of fistulae due to colonic adenocarcinomas. In this study, rectovaginal fistulae could be documented in vaginal cytology in 65% of patients with the condition.