Karyopyknosis index

The karyopycnosis index is a measured value that is used in gynecological cytodiagnostics . It gives a ratio of vaginal cells in various stages of development. This can be used to estimate the influence of estrogen on the vagina.

application

This diagnostic aid is used in developmental diagnostics (e.g. for puberty tarda ), in cycle assessment (e.g. for amenorrhea ), in hormonal fluorine diagnostics, in tumor diagnostics (for estrogen-active tumors) and for testing new estrogens and gestagens .

execution

A smear is taken from the external os and from the cervix and then stained according to Papanicolaou . The cells are assessed and counted under the microscope. The karyopycnosis index is the number of condensed karyopycnotic cells in 100 intermediate or superficial cells .

evaluation

The proportion of karyopyknotic cells increases due to the influence of estrogen. With estrogen therapy, he can therefore reach 100. In contrast, there are zero karyopycnotic cells in atrophy . In the proliferation phase the index is 0 to 32, during ovulation 12 to 90, and then again in the secretion phase to 0 to 47.

Alternatives

The level of estrogen in the blood can also be measured directly. In addition, under the influence of estrogen , the mucus in the cervix becomes particularly spinnable and pulls long threads. It crystallizes on the slide and thus forms the fern phenomenon .

Literature and Sources

1. ^ Roche Lexicon Medicine, 4th edition; Urban & Fischer Verlag, Munich 1999
2. ↑ Remmele et al. a .: Pathology, 6 Vols., Vol. 8: Cytopathology . Springer, Berlin November 24, 1999, ISBN 3540665021 , p. 66.
3. ^ Stauber, Weyerstahl: Duale series - Gynäkologie, 3rd ed . Georg Thieme Verlag, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-313-125343-9 , pp. 88-89.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !