Spectrum of cytological patterns in cervical PAP smears in a tertiary care center of Western region of Nepal

Abstract

Objective: To study the cytological patterns in cervical Pap smears in patients in a tertiary hospital of Nepal.

Methods: Clinical features of patients who had presented with Pap smear was noted in a structured Performa. Pap smears were studied by a senior pathologist blinded and reported based on revised Bethesda system (2014).

Results: Most of the cases belonged to the 31-40 years age group (42.8%). Unsatisfactory/ inadequate sample was present in 14.05 % with obscuration due to inflammatory exudate constituting most common cause. NILM rate was noted in 85.54% with 51.2% being normal findings. Epithelial cell abnormalities were noted in 116 smears (14.5 %). LSIL constituted 34.5 %, HSIL (29.3 %) and ASCUS 16.4 % of ECAs. Squamous cell carcinoma was present in 1 % of all reviewed smears.

Conclusions:Pap smear is pivotal in the cervical cancer screening in developing countries besides also identifying various inflammatory, infective, benign and malignant pathologies at the earliest thereby decreasing the morbidity and mortality.