Publicatie

Loss to follow-up of cervical smears without endocervical columnar cells is not disturbing.

Tacken, M.A.J.B., Braspenning, J.C.C., Mulder, J., Hermens, R.P.M.G., Nelen, W.L.D.M., Bakker, D.H. de, Grol, R.P.T.M. Loss to follow-up of cervical smears without endocervical columnar cells is not disturbing. European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology: 2006, 27(1), p. 42-46.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the six-month recommended follow-up after mass screening of Pap smears because of the absence of endocervical columnar cells (ECC-) or ECC+ smears with atypical squamous or glandular cells of undetermined origin (ASCUS/AGUS) or low-grade squamous or glandular intraepithelial lesions (LSIL/LGIL) in a Dutch mass screening cervical cancer programme. METHODS: Data were extracted from computerised medical records of national representative Dutch general practices. We have studied the attendance at and the outcome of the subsequent Pap smears after a 6-month recommendation. RESULTS: The six-month follow-up was linked to 8.7% of the Pap smears (n = 1,002); 77.6% were without endocervical columnar cells (ECC-). Clear differences were found between the follow-up of ECC+ and ECC- smears; after 36 weeks of follow-up of 43.5% the women had an ECC- smear and 66.9% had other conditions. For initial ECC- Pap smears, 84.1% had no abnormalities in the subsequent Pap smear; for initial ECC+ Pap smears, in about 64% of the cases no abnormalities were found (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Repeating ECC- smears has a low follow-up rate but also lacks evidence-based necessity. However, for the other 6-month recommended Pap smears, one in five women had still not responded within one year, so improvement is necessary. (aut. ref.)
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