Chronic non-specific cervicitis: Clinical significance, microbiocenosis, and diagnostic pitfalls (2016–2020 retrospective analysis)

Background. Chronic non-specific cervicitis (CNC) remains one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the cervix; however, its clinical and morphological criteria and diagnostic significance remain poorly defined, especially with negative test results for human papillomavirus (HPV) and common sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Aim. To characterize the clinical, morphological, and microbiological features of CNC in women of reproductive age, with the strict exclusion of HPV-associated and specific infectious diseases of the cervix.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of data from 152 women aged 18–49 was conducted: 131 patients with histologically confirmed CNCs and 21 healthy women. Clinical and history data, extended colposcopy, liquid-based cytology, diagnosis of HPV and STIs using polymerase chain reaction, the state of vaginal biocenosis according to the “Femoflor-16” panel, and the histological data of biopsy specimens were evaluated. Statistical analysis included the Mann–Whitney U test, the Fisher test, and calculation of the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.

Results. CNC was associated with an earlier age of onset of sexual activity (p = 0.03), a high incidence of chronic salpingo-oophoritis (45.8%), and dysbiosis episodes (41.2%). Histologically, CNC was characterized by almost universal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration (97.7%) and variable reactive epithelial changes. In patients with CNC, anaerobic-associated dysbiosis with Lactobacillus spp. deficiency was much more common. Colposcopic and cytological changes often mimicked low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, leading to diagnostic challenges.

Conclusion. CNC is an independent, microbiota-dependent inflammatory cervix phenotype that complicates the interpretation of screening tests. Morphological verification and assessment of the microbiocenosis are key components of diagnosing and differentiating CNCs from intraepithelial lesions.