Relationships between bone mineral density and cell size in cervical smears, serum estradiol levels, and anthropometric characteristics

Objective: To evaluate relationships between bone mineral density and morphometric characteristics of squamous cells in cervical smears, serum estradiol levels, body weight, and body mass index. Method: Dual X-ray absorptiometry measurements were performed in 107 women who had recently undergone routine screening for cervical cancer. Serum estradiol levels were determined. Mean areas for squamous cells, squamous cell nuclei, and squamous cell cytoplasm were calculated, as well as the nucleus area to cytoplasm area ratio. Results: The mean cell and cytoplasmic areas were significantly lower in women with lower T scores for femoral neck and lumbar spine (P < 0.001). Mean T scores were significantly lower for the women with atrophic cells than for those with mature cells (P < 0.001). A correlation between estradiol levels and T scores was found for the lumbar spine (P < 0.05) but not for the femoral neck. Multiple linear regression analysis showed the cytoplasmic area to be the most significant predictor of T scores for the total hip, followed by BMI and age, and to be the only significant predictor of T scores for the total spine. Conclusion: Relationships were found between bone mineral density and both the total cell and cytoplasmic areas of squamous cells obtained from cervical smears.