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Outcome of three consecutive inadequate cervical smears
Author(s) -
Butts S. L.,
Wilson E.,
Newman J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1365-2303
pISSN - 0956-5507
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2303.2003.00027.x
Subject(s) - medicine , colposcopy , abnormality , cervical screening , obstetrics , retrospective cohort study , population , audit , histology , gynecology , cervical cancer , pathology , cancer , management , psychiatry , economics , environmental health
A retrospective audit of women with three consecutive inadequate cervical smears during 1998–99 was conducted at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. The commonest reasons were obscured by polymorphs (34.5%) and sparse cellularity (28.9%). Seventy‐three per cent (73%) were followed up at colposcopy and 22.1% had histological assessment; 15.9% of women had an abnormality detected, 10.6% with abnormal histology and 5.3% with a cytological abnormality only. Cytological abnormalities were seen in 11.1% of the screening population. This study did not identify a cytological criterion to differentiate those that would or would not have an abnormality on follow‐up. It is suggested that all women with three consecutive inadequate smears should have adequate follow‐up, although this may place increased demands on colposcopy services.