[Acceptable quality cervical cytology taking: comparison of Cervex-brush and Cervex-mex methods].
BACKGROUND
In cervical cytology taking there has been used several devices (swab, spatula, paintbrushes, and brushes) to reduce false negative results and the necessity to exfoliate more epithelial cells from squamous columnar joint and endocervix.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the quality of cervical cytology taken with Cervex-brush and with Cervex-mex, utilizing the system of Bethesda.


METHODS
Transversal and comparative study, carried out during a period of two years, that included women from 15 to 85 years old which responded spontaneously to Papanicolaou screening as part of the permanent program of opportune diagnosis of cervical-uterine cancer. Two groups of study were formed with patients assigned in random form, in group 1 was taken cervical cytology with Cervex-brush and in group 2 with Cervex-mex; all samples were manipulated under habitual procedure and cytology were read by hospital's pathologist in blinded form.


RESULTS
There were included 1 658 patients, sample was taken with Cervex-brush in 821, and with Cervex-mex in 837. Thirty-four percent of patients have its first cervical cytology ever. Good quality cytology samples frequency was obtained with Cervex-brush in 48.5%, and with Cervex-mex in 50.4%, with statistical difference (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Cervex-mex design permits a better taking of endocervical cells, what reduces the number of inadequate cytologies and increases the possibility of detecting endocervical alterations.
Ojeda Ortiz
Jorge
J
Unidad de Colposcopia y Patología Cervical, Hospital General de Pachuca, Hidalgo, México, D F jorgeojeda@hotmail.com
Muñoz Molina
Rebeca
R
Pardo López
Manuel
M
Guevara Cruz
Martha
M
Hernández Quijano
Tomás
T
Valencia Elizondo
Claudia
C
Hernández Valencia
Marcelino
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult