[Is it necessary to make screening pap smears after hysterectomy?].
OBJECTIVE
To precise the risk of cancer of the vagina after hysterectomy.


METHODS
In our file of cervicovaginal and vulvar pathology, we looked for all VAIN and invasive cancers of the vagina on a 10-year period.


RESULTS
Out of 2152 patients, we found but 45 cases, 13 of which only after total or radical hysterectomy: 4 cases of invasive cancer of the vagina (1 after radical hysterectomy for invasive cancer of the cervix, and 3 after total hysterectomy for CIN); 9 cases of VAIN (5 after total hysterectomy for CIN; and 4 VAIN (3 after radical hysterectomy for cervical invasion).


CONCLUSIONS
In our series, we did not observe precancerous or invasive lesion of the vagina after hysterectomy for benign lesion. Indeed, the 13 cases of invasive or in situ cancers of the vagina we found had undergone simple or radical hysterectomy for cervical lesion. We think that the cytological follow-up of the vaginal vault after hysterectomy for benign lesion can be, if not stopped, at least quite spaced out. On the other hand, the follow-up must be imperatively maintained in the event of hysterectomy for precancerous lesion or cancer of cervix.
Mouithys
P
P
Centre de gynécologie-obstétrique, CHU d'Amiens, 124, rue Camille-Desmoulins, 80054 Amiends cedex 1, France.
Papadopoulos
C
C
Allier
G
G
Lanta
S
S
Delpierre
C
C
Najas
S
S
Boulanger
J-C
JC
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000601:surgery