title: A prospective follow up study of women with colposcopically unconfirmed positive cervical smears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine a cohort of women with positive cervical smears, but negative colposcopy, in order to ascertain whether there is a subsequent difference in the incidence of squamous dyskaryosis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia when compared with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colposcopy clinics, antenatal clinics, GP surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study group of 255 women with reported abnormal cervical smears but negative colposcopy was subdivided into three groups according to referral smears suggesting high grade dyskaryosis (n = 34), mild dyskaryosis (n = 120) and borderline changes (n = 101). They were followed for at least five years and were compared with a control group of 726 women followed up after a negative smear, using the first and worst follow up smears over a five year recall period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of subsequent cervical cytological and histological abnormalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The control group had a similar incidence of squamous dyskaryosis as that expected in the screening population. Forty-six per cent of the study group with colposcopically unconfirmed ('false positive') cervical smears subsequently had abnormal smears. When the three groups were compared with controls using a chi2 test, their incidence of abnormal smears was significantly increased. Cervical intrepithelial neoplasia was found in 19% of the study group, and in 3% of the control group (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis demonstrates that women with so-called 'false positive' smears defined by negative colposcopy have an increased risk of subsequent abnormal smears and cervical intrepithelial neoplasia, suggesting that lesions may have been missed on colposcopy. However, in a significant proportion of women, further abnormalities were not detected during the follow up period, indicating that there may be other causes for positive smears and negative colposcopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytology, Royal Victoria Infirmary and Associated Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wadehra
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mennim
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
mesh_terms: D003127:Colposcopy; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis*