Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia III detected after hysterectomy for benign conditions

Because primary vaginal cancer is rare, many experts discourage routine cytologic sampling of the vaginal vault following hysterectomy for benign circumstances. The following report describes a case of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia III (VAIN III) detected by a vaginal vault Papanicolaou smear obtained from an asymptomatic 57-year old woman 23 years after she had a total abdominal hysterectomy for a benign condition. As VAIN III is a true vaginal cancer precursor, the innocent disregard of recommended screening practices averted significant morbidity and possibility mortality for this otherwise healthy woman.