title: Outcome of three consecutive inadequate cervical smears.
abstract: A retrospective audit of women with three consecutive inadequate cervical smears during 1998-99 was conducted at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. The commonest reasons were obscured by polymorphs (34.5%) and sparse cellularity (28.9%). Seventy-three per cent (73%) were followed up at colposcopy and 22.1% had histological assessment; 15.9% of women had an abnormality detected, 10.6% with abnormal histology and 5.3% with a cytological abnormality only. Cytological abnormalities were seen in 11.1% of the screening population. This study did not identify a cytological criterion to differentiate those that would or would not have an abnormality on follow-up. It is suggested that all women with three consecutive inadequate smears should have adequate follow-up, although this may place increased demands on colposcopy services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Walsall Manor Hospital, Walsall, West Midlands, UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Butts
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014626:Vaginal Smears