Pattern of abnormal Pap smears in developing countries: a report from a large referral hospital in Saudi Arabia using the revised 2001 Bethesda System.
BACKGROUND
Reports describing the frequency and pattern of abnormal Pap smears in developing countries using the revised Bethesda system for Pap smear are few. We studied the pattern of cervical intraepithelial lesions and carcinoma detected in Pap smears of Saudi females in the western region of Saudi Arabia using the revised system.


METHODS
All cervical Pap smears reported in the Department of Pathology of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, from 1 January 1998 to 31 August 2005 were reclassified according to the revised system with age ranges identified.


RESULTS
Of 5590 sufficient smears, 261 (5%) were identified as abnormal and were further classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) (103 cases, 40%), atypical squamous cells of high grade (6 cases, 2%), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) (56 cases, 22%), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) (31 cases, 12%), glandular cell abnormalities (30 cases, 11%) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (21 cases, 9%). The ASC-US/SIL ratio was 1.9%. Invasive adenocarcinoma accounted for 14 cases (4%) with a similar age range as invasive squamous cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this study showed a lower incidence and a wider age range of cervical epithelial cell abnormalities than others published internationally, the results emphasize the need for a well-organized cervical screening program supplemented by larger national studies on the pattern of cervical abnormalities in this country. The information provided in this study will encourage use of the Pap smear as a screening method for cervical cancer in developing countries.
Department of Pathology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. layla2abdullah@hotmail.com
Layla S
LS
Abdullah
D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*