title: Detection of abnormal cervical cytology in Papanicolaou smears.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cytology by Papanicolaou (Pap) smears is an effective means of screening for cervical premalignant and malignant conditions. Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer remain important health problems for women worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of Pap smear in detecting premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix; and to determine the prevalence of various lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is based on 300 patients who attended the out-patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Pap smears were prepared from patients presenting with complaints like vaginal discharge, post-coital bleeding, inter-menstrual bleeding, dyspareunia, and pain lower abdomen. After fixation and staining, each smear was carefully examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epithelial cell abnormalities were found in 5% smears, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in 0.3%, squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) in 3.4% which includes low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (2.7%) and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) 0.7%. Invasive carcinoma was seen in 1.3% cases. Mean age of the patients with diagnosis of LSIL was 32.3 years and for HSIL, it was 40.5 years. The mean age of the patients with invasive carcinoma was 57 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix are not uncommon in our set up and can be diagnosed early by Pap smears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Manjit Singh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: Rishu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Suri
authors.forename: Manjit Kaur
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mohi