Publication:

A study of efficacy of pap smear in a rural medical college and hospital

Background To screen women for cervical cancer using pap smear technique in rural medical college and hospital. To compare the results with other studies early diagnosis of precancerous lesion of carcinoma of cervix To bring awareness among public. Cervical screening using age, symptoms, per speculum examination as parameters and to compare results with other studies.

Methods In this retrospective study, reports of pap smear test, which was done to women attending obstetrics and gynaecology clinic in the period January 2024 to August 2024, was obtained from department of pathology of Adichunchanagiri institute of medical sciences, B. G. Nagara. During this period total of 620 smears were assessed.

Results 38.01% had white discharge per vagina, 67.76% had other symptoms like irregular menstrual cycle, abdominal pain, intermenstrual bleeding, secondary amenorrhea etc, 9.2% had no symptoms. Total of 31 (5.12%) smears were found abnormal. Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) in 2.4%, Atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) in 1.32%, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in 0.66% and high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in 0.33%.

Conclusions Pap smear is a simple, cost effective, easily accessible screening test which has to be utilised for early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions of carcinoma cervix. Awareness among rural people regarding benefits of screening test has to be made and encourage them to participate