The screening Papanicolaou smear: contribution of the endocervical brush.
Between September 1984 and February 1985, cervical cytologic smears were collected from 510 patients using a spatula and an endocervical swab. These smears were compared with those collected from 510 patients between September 1985 and February 1986 using a spatula and an endocervical brush. The use of the endocervical brush increased the number of smears that contained endocervical cells, for both reproductive-age and postmenopausal women. In women without previous radiation therapy, the rate of suboptimal smears (those without endocervical cells) fell from 12.0 to 1.7% when the endocervical brush was used. This modified smear collection technique improved the quality of the cytologic material.
Taylor
P T
PT
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Andersen
W A
WA
Barber
S R
SR
Covell
J L
JL
Smith
E B
EB
Underwood
P B
PB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*