title: An audit of Colposcopy referrals from a GU/STD clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer is increasing at 1.5% per year in Ireland with 50% mortality giving 2.2% of all cancer deaths. In the Mid-West region a pilot screening programme has begun to screen all women 25-60 years. 66% of Genitourinary/Sexually transmitted disease (GU/STD) clinics' abnormal smears are <25 years. Requests to abandon "opportunistic" screening prompted this GU/STD clinic audit.
  
  
  METHODS
  221(8.4%) patients referred to colposcopy over 4 years were audited. Retrospective analysis was carried out on GU/STD clinic files, hospital files and computer records for biopsy reports. Ethical approval was prospectively granted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2637 smears were carried out from November 1999 - September 2003.221 patients referred to colposcopy were audited.1%, 3%, 5% had severe, moderate and, mild dyskaryosis, respectively, on cervical screening while 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.5% had CIN3, CIN2, CIN1 abnormalities, respectively, on biopsy with 3.5% having no abnormality (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia = CIN).53% referred to colposcopy were <25 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  2% had high grade lesions. 37% of high grade lesions are <25 years.Of the high grade lesions 13% had Chlamydia trachomatis (27% of CIN3) and 44% had HPV despite Relative Risks (RR) being 0.75 and 1.09 respectively. Older women had higher grade changes. No statistical difference was found for progression, regression and persistence in those over and under 25.
authors: Dept. of GU/STD Medicine, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, Ireland. Catherine.OConnor@mailh.hse.ie
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: O'Connor
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Myles
authors: Mortimer B
authors: MB
authors: O'Connor
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Clancy
authors: Ailis
authors: A
authors: Ryan
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Traynor
authors: Dolores
authors: D
authors: McGrath
authors: Kitty
authors: K
authors: O'Sullivan