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Should the Pap smear be repeated at the first colposcopy visit?
Author(s) -
DOLMAN Grace,
TAN Jeffrey,
QUINN Michael
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2005.00488.x
Subject(s) - colposcopy , medicine , dysplasia , pap smears , obstetrics , gynecology , pathology , cervical cancer , cancer
Aim: To determine whether there is any benefit in repeating the Pap smear at the time of colposcopy in women referred to a teaching hospital dysplasia clinic. Methods: Analysis of a computerised database, and review of literature. Results: Repeating the Pap smear potentially changed management in 2% of women referred with low‐grade lesions, and in 7% of those with high‐grade lesions. Conclusion: Although the literature suggests that the repeat smear may directly affect the quality of the colposcopic examination, repeating the smear in women referred with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial (HSIL) smears may be beneficial.