Sequential Screening with Cytology and Colposcopy in Detection of Cervical Neoplasia

ABSTRACT Background Pap smear is the most commonly used screening test for cervical cancer, however it has disadvantage of having low sensitivity. Colposcopy has higher sensitivity as compared to Pap smear but low specificity. Sequential screening with both Pap smear and colposcopy can overcome these problems. Aim The study was aimed to find out the diagnostic efficacy of both Pap smear and colposcopy. It was also intended to find out the advantages of sequential use of Pap smear and colposcopy in screening for cervical cancer. Design It was a cross-sectional study conducted in colposcopy clinic of KLE's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Belgaum from November 2006 to September 2008. Material and methods A total of 190 patients with complaints of postcoital bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, persistent vaginal discharge or those found to have an unhealthy cervix on per speculum examination were included in the study. In all the 190 cases Pap smear, colposcopic evaluation and colposcopic directed biopsy were performed. Statistical analysis Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of both Pap smear and colposcopy were calculated with histopathology as a gold standard, keeping LSIL as a disease threshold for test positivity. Results Pap smear was positive in 14.21% (27/190) cases, colposcopy was positive in 37.89% (72/190) cases. Biopsy confirmed LSIL and higher lesions in 31.57% cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Pap smear were 41.66%, 96.92%, 86.21% and 78.26% respectively and 80%, 81.54%, 66.66% and 89.83% respectively for colposcopy. Combined colposcopy and Pap smear could accurately diagnose 53/60 biopsy confirmed cases of LSIL and higher lesions with an accuracy of 88.33%. Conclusion Sequential use of Pap smear and colposcopy in screening for cervical cancer increases the accuracy of the test.