Stippled vaginal epithelial cells are also known as what?

Stippled vaginal epithelial cells refer to clue cells, which are characterized by their distinctive appearance under the microscope. These cells typically have a stippled or granular appearance due to their association with bacterial vaginosis, a condition caused by an imbalance in the normal bacterial flora of the vagina. Clue cells are essentially vaginal epithelial cells that have become coated with bacteria, leading to their irregular, stippled appearance.

Recognizing clue cells is important in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, as they are often identified during a wet mount examination of vaginal secretions. Their presence, alongside other clinical criteria, helps differentiate bacterial vaginosis from other vaginal infections, such as candidiasis or trichomoniasis.

Other options do not reflect the specific characteristics of stippled cells. Cervical cells pertain to the lining of the cervix and do not exhibit the stippling associated with clue cells. Decidual cells are modified endometrial cells that become prominent during pregnancy, and endometrial cells refer to the lining of the uterus, neither of which display the same stippled morphology as clue cells do. Thus, clue cells are the correct identification for stippled vaginal epithelial cells.