[Cytological diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix - critical analysis (author's transl)].

Results obtained from cytological diagnosis of gynaecological patients, between 1969 and 1979, are reported in this paper. Precursor and early phases of cervix carcinoma were recorded from 295 of 32,464 cytologically examined patients. The accuracy of positive findings was improved to the order of 92.8 per cent by 1979. Falsely negative findings accounted for 1.45 per cent on average. Some of the cases of falsely negative findings are discussed in greater detail to elucidate possible errors. Particular reference is made to the need for optimum cooperation between the gynaecologist, cytologist, and histologist.