PAP SMEAR FOLLOW-UP REIMAGINED: EXPLORING CORRECTIVE MEASURES FOR BETTER OUTCOME
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Keywords
Audit, PAP smear, cervical carcinoma, follow-up
Abstract
Cervical carcinoma is one of the highly preventable cancers since it can be detected at its premalignant stage if PAP testing is performed meticulously. Inadequate samples can unnecessarily add to patient stress. Stringent follow-up is necessary in cases with suspicious diagnoses and those with inadequate smears.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES- The study was conducted with an aim to determine the feasibility of PAP smear follow-ups and corrective measures for improved outcomes. Cases with inadequate/unsatisfactory samples and suspicious diagnoses that are lost to follow-up were evaluated.
METHODS- A cross -sectional study was done for a study duration of one year in which PAP smears reported were retrieved from the departmental records. Smears reported as unsatisfactory and suspicious for malignancy were evaluated for follow-up. Further measures that can be taken to increase follow-up were discussed in the audit meeting held regularly at our institute.
RESULTS- Out of 1200 cases reported, 220 cases (18.3%) were unsatisfactory for evaluation. Of 980 satisfactory cases, 30 cases (3%) showed epithelial cell abnormality. The follow-up rate for unsatisfactory and epithelial cell abnormality was 24.3% and 30%, respectively.
CONCLUSION- There is a dire need for mass campaigns and education regarding the benefit of regular Pap testing, especially in a developing nation like India. The root cause of decreased follow-up even after suspicious diagnosis needs to be resolved through various possible interventions at the institute level as well as the national and international level.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Kriti Grover
MD Pathology, Assistant Professor, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Anu Jhanji
MD Pathology, Assistant Professor, Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly
Uttar Pradesh, India,
Rohit Palta
MD Medicine , Assistant Professor, Medicine, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly
Uttar Pradesh, India,
Mehnaz Munawar
MBBS, Postgraduate student, General Pathology, Rohilkhand medical college and hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Siddharth Arora
DNB radiation oncology, Fellowship clinical oncology, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Nitesh Mohan
MD Pathology, Professor and Head of Department, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Shilpi Singh
MBBS, Post graduate student, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India,