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Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading
causes of mortality and morbidity in women
worldwide. This can be detected effectively in pre
invasive forms by using certain screening tests
among which the Pap smear test is most widely
used. This study was conducted to determine the
frequency of abnormal cervical cytology by Pap
smear and to stress upon the role of Pap smear in
screening of cervical cancer.
Materials & Methods: A cross sectional
descriptive study was carried out on 121 patients,
reporting to a private lab, selected through non
probability convenience sampling technique.
Patients with complete referral forms were included
and then their lab reports were reviewed. The
required data (including slide number, age, reason
of referral and lab findings) was collected on a
Proforma and was further analyzed by SPSS version
23. By using descriptive statistics, frequencies were
calculated and cross tabulations were made.
Results: Out of 121 lab reports, 57%(n=69) were
normal, 34.7%(n=42) had inflammation without
atypia, 1.7%(n=2) had Inflammation with atypia,
2.5%(n=3) had ASCUS, 1.7%(n=2) had LSIL,
1.7%(n=2) had HSIL and 0.8%(n=1) had cervical
cancer. On total,
8.4%(n=10) reports were having abnormal cervical
cytologies including one case (0.8%) of Invasive
cervical carcinoma. 7.6% cases were found to be
potentially pre invasive (i.e. Atypia , ASCUS , LSIL ,
HSIL). Out of which 66% were found in the age
group of above 40 years.
Conclusion: Pap test effectively picked up 7.6%
cases of abnormal cervical epithelium in potentially
pre invasive forms. 66% of these cases were found in
the age group of above 40 years.
Key words: Cervical cancer, Pap smear test,
screening test