title: Cervical cytology in a community laboratory.
abstract: A retrospective analysis of the results of 27,801 cervical smears from one year in a community laboratory was undertaken. This represented 23,820 individual patients. Abnormalities were seen in 9.3% of patients. Three point seven percent of patients had benign abnormalities, 5.5% had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 0.1% had major abnormalities. The incidence of cervical epithelial abnormality was highest in the 15-34 age group but major abnormalities were seen most often in the 55+ age group. Human papillomavirus was more commonly seen in the youngest age group. The presence of inflammation was reported in 65% of the smears. Thirty percent of smears had no endocervical cells and 0.6% were grossly inadequate. Fifteen percent of patients had repeat smears and 3% of total smears were judged unnecessary. Forty two point six percent of patients less than 55 years of age in the laboratory population base had a smear but only 7.9% of those over 55.
authors.affiliation: Cytology Department, Valley Diagnostic Laboratory, Lower Hutt.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCafferty
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011786:Quality Control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*