title: The Diagnostic Value of Routine Papanicolaou Smears for Detecting Endometrial Cancers: An Update.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The presence of degenerative endometrial debris and abnormal endometrial cells is considered to be the hint for endometrial pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in detecting endometrial cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 146 cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed at our institute in 2000-2002 and 271 in 2010-2012. Among them, 57 and 95 relevant reports of Pap smears 6 months prior to the histology diagnosis were retrieved for this study, respectively. In the first time period, new criteria for detecting endometrial lesions had not yet been incorporated into routine screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty cases (21%) of adenocarcinoma, 12 (13%) of atypical glandular cells, 4 (4%) of endometrial debris and 59 (62%) negative reports were found among the more recent 95 relevant Pap smears. The overall efficacy of the Pap smear for detecting endometrial malignancy was 38%, higher than 10 years previously (30%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the Pap smear was originally designed to screen cervical lesions, more effective detection of endometrial lesions could be achieved by adding new criteria to the routine screening.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Chiung-Ru
authors: CR
authors: Lai
authors: Chih-Yi
authors: CY
authors: Hsu
authors: Jen-Fan
authors: JF
authors: Hang
authors: Anna Fen-Yau
authors: AF
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods