Abstract

Diagnostic cervical cytologic and histopathologic study of 81 patients was done by the Papanicolaou smear, punch biopsy, and mini-cone biopsy methods. After initial experience with the mini-cone instrument, sufficient circumferentially coned tissue for histopathologic study was regularly obtained. The mini-cone procedure using the disposable plastic device provided information equal to that of the punch biopsy in 76 of the 81 cases, which were approximately equally divided into class 1–2 smears (negative) and class 3–4 smears (dysplasia). Only the mini-cone biopsy revealed unexpected Manilia (one case) and “contraceptive” hyperplasia (three cases). No bleeding problem was encountered. The mini-cone information obtained was at least equal to that obtained by punch biopsy, a procedure often used to supplement Pap smear findings. If these preliminary results are supported in a carefully structured protocol led study, consideration could be given to using the mini-cone biopsy method when the Pap smear needs to be repeated.