Scanning electron microscopy of normal uterine cervix, carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma. Preliminary findings.

Colposcopically directed punch biopsy specimens of the uterine cervix were taken from women in whom Papanicolaou smears indicated cytological abnormalities. Half of each specimen was processed for scanning electron microscopy and half for light microscopy. The surface morphology of normal cervical, metaplastic and frankly carcinomatous epithelia and epithelia of carcinoma in situ, as seen under the scanning electron microscope, was compared with the appearance revealed by Papanicolaou smears, and haematoxylin- and eosin-stained sections.