Perinuclear halo indicate Trichomonas vaginalis in Pap smear

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis could be seen in Pap smears where it is reported, but because main concerned is placed on malignant cells in Pap smears, not much effort is done to search for this parasite in smears. In this study, 100 cervical and vaginal specimens were examined microscopically by the conventional Papanicolaou method and liquid base cytology (LBC) for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis (T.vaginalis). 16% were infected with T.vaginalis while 10% of diagnosis based on both perinuclear halo and T. vaginalis presence although the association between perinuclear halo and T, vaginalis is statistically insignificant it is recommended to increase the number of the cases to prove or disprove the association.