Does regular cervical screening protect women from microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix? A retrospective case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the smear histories of women with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix to those of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3).


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
A large public hospital gynaecology unit. Sample Twenty-nine consecutive women with microinvasive SCC FIGO stage 1A1 (cases). Fifty-five age-matched controls with histologically confirmed CIN3 (controls).


METHODS
The cases and controls were selected from institutional databases; smear histories and other information was retrieved from hospital notes or following consent from other records.


METHODS
The time from index smear to prior screening smear and participation in the National Screening Programme (NCSP).


RESULTS
Only 35% of cases compared with 78% controls had a smear in the last 3 years (P = 0.00008.) Cases had a longer median interval between the abnormal smear that resulted in diagnosis and the previous screening smear (4 years) compared with controls (2 years). Cases were less likely to be enrolled in the NCSP (65%) prior to their index smear than controls (85%).


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed interval screening was more frequent in women with 1A1 SCC than CIN3.
Sykes
Peter H
PH
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Reddy
Jessamine
J
Peddie
David J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology*