title: Limited value of vaginal cytology in detecting recurrent disease after radical hysterectomy for early stage cervical carcinoma.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of vaginal cytology in routine surveillance for recurrent cervical cancer after surgery. We reviewed the medical records of 565 patients with stage IB-IIA cervical cancer who were treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHPL) and attended follow- up at Chiang Mai University Hospital between January 2000 and May 2006. With the median follow-up of 35 months (range 1-76 months), 23 (4%) patients developed recurrence. The interval from surgery to detection of recurrence ranged from 5-61 months with a median of 23 months. Of the total 4,376 vaginal smears, 5 (0.1%) showed abnormal cytology but only 1 had malignant cells and tumor recurrence. The sensitivity and specificity of vaginal cytology for detection of recurrence were 4.3% and 99.3%, respectively. In conclusion, vaginal cytology has limited value in detection of recurrence after RHPL for early-stage cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. i_napat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Napat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Injumpa
authors.forename: Prapaporn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suprasert
authors.forename: Jatupol
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Srisomboon
authors.forename: Kanchana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nimmanahaeminda
authors.forename: Chailert
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phongnarisorn
authors.forename: Sitthicha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siriaree
authors.forename: Kittipat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charoenkwan
authors.forename: Chalong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheewakriangkrai
authors.forename: Chumnan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kietpeerakool
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears