EVALUATION OF PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTIC OF CERVICAL AND VAGINAL PAP SMEARS - A THREE YEAR STUDY AT TERTIARY CARE CENTRE OF EASTERN INDIA

Introduction: Cervical cancer is an increasing health problem and an important cause of mortality in women worldwide. Aims & objective: The present study aimed to evaluate cervical and vaginal smears for cervical screening and to categorize the age and pattern of Pap smear abnormalities in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: It is a prospective retrospective study that includes Pap smear results of 3871 women who visited the gynaecology department for routine health check-up or for screening any pathological abnormalities found between January 2017 and December 2019. All the Pap smear results were retrieved and analysed to evaluate abnormal cervical findings with age distribution, site of collection, and epithelial cell abnormalities. Results: Out of 3871 smears, 3026 (78.17%) smears were collected from cervix and 845 (21.83%) smears were collected from vault. The mean age of women was 49.76 ±12.57 years. 173 smears (4.46%) were found unsatisfactory or inadequate for evaluation. 2723 smears (70.36%) showed inflammation, 130 smears (3.35%) showed candida infection, 717 smears (18.52%) showed bacterial vaginosis, 20 smears (0.51%) showed trichomonas vaginalis and 20 smears (0.51%) were diagnosed with epithelial cell abnormalities. Conclusion: It is concluded from the study that smear positivity of intraepithelial lesions has to be co-related with histopathology for further management. Early diagnosis of cervical cancer is possible with Pap smear test. The Pap smear is very useful, economical and simple tool in identifying the abnormalities even in asymptomatic women.