Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer screening using Pap smear is the cornerstone of any cancer control program. The study aimed to know the burden of various cervical lesions which were assessed by conventional Pap smear study. Methodology: We included 500 referred symptomatic patients in the study. The history, deatiled clinical examination, per speculum examination and a vaginal examination were performed for all women. Pap smear was used to screen all women for cervical cancer. Results: Mean age of the study population was 44 years and the most common complaint was whitish discharge per vaginam (54%). Classifying patients according to the Bethesda System 2001 Guidelines, we observed 61% (n = 303) cases to be Negative for Intraepithelial Lesion or Malignancy (NILM), 36% (n = 182) as Atypical Squamous Cells (ASC), 2% (n = 10) as Atypical Endocervical Cells (AEC) and 1% (n = 05) as unsatisfactory. Of the 303 cases of NILM, non-specific inflammatory changes were seen in 63%, reactive cellular changes in 21%, atrophic changes in 10%, candidiasis in 3%, Gardnerella vaginalis in 2% and inflammation with Trichomonas in 1%. Of the 182 ASC, 30% had low-grade squamous intrapeithelial lesion, 26% atypical squamous cells of underdetermined significance, 24% with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and 21% with squamous cell carcinoma. Of the 10 AEC cases, 1 case had adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: Pap smear is less invasive, cost-effective and simple procedure which can be used to detect dysplasia in the cervix.

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