Background: Cancer of cervix is the second most common cancer in women in the world and one of the leading malignancies seen in Indian women. In India and other developing countries, cervical cancer is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality. Cancer of cervix is preventable if diagnosed at the pre-invasive stage with regular intervals of cytological screening by Papanicolaou (Pap) smears.
Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the importance of conventional Pap smears for the diagnosis of inflammatory, premalignant, and malignant lesions of the cervix.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to December 2014 on 1808 women coming for a Pap smear examination in Government Medical College attached to New Civil Hospital, Surat. After doing Pap stain, all cases were reported as per the 2001 Bethesda system.
Results: A total of 1808 cases of Pap smears were received out of which 1563 (86.5%) cases were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, 161 (8.9%) cases were unsatisfactory or inadequate, and 84 (4.65%) cases showed epithelial cell abnormality. Out of the 1563 cases, 647 (41.39%) cases were reported to have no specific pathology, 90 (5.76%) showed changes of atrophy, 333 (21.31%) cases showed inflammatory/reactive changes, whereas organisms were seen in 493 (31.54%) cases.
Conclusion: Pap smear examination is an effective screening and diagnostic procedure for the detection of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions at an early stage, thereby helping the clinicians in more efficient management of the patients. It also suggests a need for further evaluation and follow-up.
Key words: Cervical cancer, Bethesda system, Pap smear
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