title: Efficacy of visual inspection of the cervix using acetic acid in cervical cancer screening: a comparison with cervical cytology.
abstract: Screening programmes for the early detection of premalignant lesions of the cervix are expensive and technically difficult, especially in resource-challenged settings. There is a need for cheaper and equally effective alternative screening methods. This study compared the efficacy of visual inspection of the cervix using acetic acid (VIA) with the Pap smear method. A total of 186 subjects had a Pap smear followed by visual inspection of the cervix using 3 - 5% acetic acid with biopsies taken from suspicious acetowhite positive lesions. Cases of abnormal cytology were recalled for biopsies. A total of 150 subjects were negative for both tests; 30 (16.2%) were positive for VIA, while six were positive for both VIA and Pap smear. VIA detected one lesion missed by Pap smear on biopsy. The sensitivity of VIA was 100%, while that of Pap smear was 85.7%. The negative predictive value of VIA was 100%, while the positive predictive value was 20%. The sensitivity of VIA equals the reported rates for Pap smear. VIA is proposed as a credible alternative to Pap smear in resource-challenged settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Akinola
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Fabamwo
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Oshodi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Banjo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Odusanya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gbadegesin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tayo
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008403:Mass Screening; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019342:Acetic Acid