Dysplastic squamous cervical cells with 'raisinoid' nuclei and hyperchromasia are called?

Dysplastic squamous cervical cells with 'raisinoid' nuclei and hyperchromasia are called?

• A. Reed-Sternberg cells
• B. Dyskeratocytes
• C. Atypical squamous cells
• D. Koilocytes

Answer: (D)

Recognize the change HPV causes in the cervical squamous epithelium. HPV infection leads to koilocytosis, where squamous cells show enlarged, irregular, hyperchromatic nuclei that take on a raisin-like (raisinoid) appearance, with a clear perinuclear halo from cytoplasmic changes. This combination of features—dysplastic squamous cells with raisinoid nuclei and hyperchromasia—is classic for koilocytes and is a hallmark of HPV-related cervical lesions. Reed-Sternberg cells are the large, bilobed cells with “owl’s-eye” nuclei seen in Hodgkin lymphoma, not in the cervical epithelium. Dyskeratocytes are keratinizing cells associated with other skin/dyskeratosis conditions, not HPV-induced cervical changes. Atypical squamous cells describe a broad, nonspecific category of squamous abnormalities, but the distinctive raisinoid koilocyte pattern ties best to koilocytes.

Recognize the change HPV causes in the cervical squamous epithelium. HPV infection leads to koilocytosis, where squamous cells show enlarged, irregular, hyperchromatic nuclei that take on a raisin-like (raisinoid) appearance, with a clear perinuclear halo from cytoplasmic changes. This combination of features—dysplastic squamous cells with raisinoid nuclei and hyperchromasia—is classic for koilocytes and is a hallmark of HPV-related cervical lesions.

Reed-Sternberg cells are the large, bilobed cells with “owl’s-eye” nuclei seen in Hodgkin lymphoma, not in the cervical epithelium. Dyskeratocytes are keratinizing cells associated with other skin/dyskeratosis conditions, not HPV-induced cervical changes. Atypical squamous cells describe a broad, nonspecific category of squamous abnormalities, but the distinctive raisinoid koilocyte pattern ties best to koilocytes.