[Results of using the Bethesda system to evaluate vaginal smears. An end of Papanicolaou classification?].

Fifty three vaginal smears, classified to the III Papanicolaou group, were verified with Bethesda system. It was found that this system eliminates qualitatively erroneous preparations, increasing reliability of diagnosis, and facilitating precise description of cytological diagnosis. Advantages of Bethesda system justify its prompt introduction to the practice and abandon Papanicolaou classification.