A cervical Pap smear repo stating that "koilocytic atypia is present" indicates the:-: (A) Presence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, (B) Cytologic effect of herpesvirus type 2, (C) Cytologic effect of human papillomavirus, (D) Presence of chlamydial infection
Answer is C. HPV infection of squamous cells Produces wrinkled nuclei surrounded by a clear halo. This is called koilocytosis. Whether it is indicative of a low or a high grade lesion in the cervix requires tissue documentation. This is usually obtained with a colposcopic biopsy.