A Retrospective Analysis of Cervical Cytology Using Pap Smear among Symptomatic Women Attending Gynaecology OPD in a Secondary Care Hospital in Northern India
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in India. It develops well-defined premalignant lesions before the development of invasive lesions, and hence, early diagnosis and treatment may prevent progression to advanced stages. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear examination is a useful screening tool for cervical cancer. However, it is resource-intensive and requires skilled manpower. In routine outpatient settings in tertiary care facilities, Pap smear examination is conducted among symptomatic women. Analysis of such data may provide useful information regarding premalignant lesions, but there is a paucity of data from secondary care health facilities, which cater to rural women who are at a higher risk of carcinoma cervix. Objective: To study the pattern of Pap smear abnormalities and identification of high-risk lesions among symptomatic women attending a secondary care hospital in a rural area.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of records of Pap smear results from January 2013 to May 2018, from a secondary care hospital in northern India. The data were analysed and age-wise cytological patterns were reported as percentages.
Results: A total of 393 Pap smear examinations were performed during the study period. Results were available for 355 smears. The commonest abnormality was inflammation (83.6%). The prevalence of cervical epithelial abnormalities was 4.2%, including atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASCUS) (0.8%), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (0.3%), and squamous cell metaplasia (2.9 %).
Conclusion: Abnormal cytology is common among symptomatic women. Linkages between district hospitals and medical colleges may improve screening
How to cite this article:
Kaur R, Kant S, Shalli, Rath RS. A Retrospective
Analysis of Cervical Cytology Using Pap Smear
among Symptomatic Women Attending
Gynaecology OPD in a Secondary Care Hospital
in Northern India. Epidem Int. 2023;8(2):7-11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.7048.202308
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Copyright (c) 2023 Ravneet Kaur, Shashi Kant, Shalli, Rama Shankar Rath
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