Presencia del componente de la zona de transformación del cuello uterino en citologías anormales en la Clínica de Maternidad Rafael Calvo de Cartagena (Colombia) entre 2009 y 2012

It has determined that the detection of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion is more probably in cytological smears with presence of transformation zone component, but the relation between sampling rates of this zone and detection of cytological abnormalities is controversial. Objective: To determine the presence of transformation zone component in abnormal cervical smears. Material and methods: It was made a cross-sectional study of all abnormal cervical-vaginal smears studied in Cervical Pathology Unit of ESE Clinica de Maternidad Rafael Calvo de Cartagena (Colombia) between 2009 and 2012. A second reading of the presence of transformation zone component it was made, as well as of their coexistence with abnormal cells in the same microscopic field at different magnifications, comparing the concurrence of both cell types in low and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Results: 1,287 abnormal cervical smears were included, 74.7% of them with transformation zone component. To higher degree of lesion, higher percentage of smears with this component was found. Coexistence of endocervical and abnormal cells in the same microscopic field was higher in the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions compared with those with low grade (p=0.000 X2). Conclusions: There is a higher frequency of abnormal cervical smears with presence of transformation zone component of the cervix. Their presence is more frequent in the smears with high-grade lesions, where endocervical cells or metaplastic are closely related to abnormal cells.