title: Paired Papanicolaou smears in the evaluation of atypical squamous cells.
abstract: Between February 1985 and April 1988, 360 women were seen at Tripler Army Medical Center's cervical clinic as part of a prospective study to assess the value of paired Papanicolaou smears in the follow-up of atypical squamous cells in a cervical cytologic smear. The evaluation consisted of paired repeat Papanicolaou smears and colposcopy. Colposcopically directed biopsies and/or endocervical curettage were performed in 86% of the subjects. The results of the paired Papanicolaou smears were negative/negative in 202 patients (56%). Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was diagnosed histopathologically in 16% of all patients and in 10% of those with negative/negative repeat smears. We conclude that the presence of atypical squamous cells in a Papanicolaou smear should be considered abnormal and that colposcopy and colposcopically directed biopsies should be performed for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears