Abstract Introduction: Chromosomes or chromosomal segments that fail to get incorporated into nuclei during cell division configure as micronuclei (MN), nuclear budding (NB) and chromatin bridges (CB). The frequency of these markers are increased in carcinogen-exposed tissues long before any clinical symptoms are evident. Objectives of the Study: To study and compare the scoring of morphological markers of chromosomal instability in a spectrum of non-neoplastic, intraepithelial intraepithelial neoplasm and invasive cancer of the cervix. Methodology: Retrospective study conducted in the department of pathology, MIMS, Mandya from January 2016 to December 2017. All conventional pap smears with epithelial cell abnormalities and equal number of age matched pap smears without epithelial cell abnormalities received during study period were interpreted according to 2014 Bethesda system and examined for MN, NB and CB. Results: Out of 150 conventional pap smears studied 53 smears showed neoplastic changes and 75 were non-neoplastic. Carcinoma in situ (LSIL and HSIL) seen in 42 smears and invasive carcinoma in 11 smears. The mean MN score and NB score showed increasing trend towards malignancy with significant p value <0.05. The MN score and NB score is significantly high in invasive carcinoma compared to carcinoma in situ. CB was observed in one case each of LSIL, HSIL and IC. Conclusion: This is a simple, reliable, reproducible and cost-effective test and can serve as an effective biomarker in conjunction with the conventional cervical Pap screening for early diagnosis of CIN and cervical cancer.
Keywords: Morphological Markers of Chromosomal Instability; HSIL; LSIL; Micronuclei; Nuclear Budding; Nuclear Bridging