Leucorrhoea: Not An Innocuous Symptom.

ABSTRACT

Background: Leucorrhea is a major problem in gynecological practice. It can be "physiological" or "pathological." Common pathological causes are infections, cervicitis, atrophy, malignant and premalignant lesions of cervix. Aims: To study the cervical cytology in women with leucorrhoea, to find any relation with age and parity, and evaluate the role of cytology in detecting lesions of cervix. Methods and Material: Observational cross-sectional study. Total 2176 women with leucorrhoea were studied. Cervical scrape smears were taken with Ayre's spatula. Statistical analysis was done wherever applicable. Result/Conclusions: Most common finding in cervical smears in leucorrhoea is Reactive Cellular Changes followed by "Organisms", Candida being the most common. Prevalence of "Epithelial cell abnormality" and squamous cell carcinoma increases with increasing age and parity, whereas prevalence of NILM is associated with younger age and lower parity. Epithelial Cell Abnormalities can also manifest as leucorrhoea. Therefore, regular screening of women with leucorrhoea is must.