[Urethral cytology and diagnosis of the term of pregnancy. Changes in the morphological aspects during the last trimester].

Urethrocytograms were made by brushing in women during the last quarter of their pregnancy, from week 28 of amenorrhea to week 38. Two different cell patterns were present in these smears. The A-pattern is composed by round squamous cells, often in clumps. The B-one is characterized by small clusters of more irregular polygonal squamous cells. The A-pattern was more frequent until week 32; the B-pattern was predominant in further smears until week 38. The presence of the A- and B-patterns in the smears may cause confusion for the cytologist respectively with the at-term- and near-term-patterns. The authors emphasize the interest of these studies in the early deliveries.