[National results of cervix cytology diagnosis in 1992; efficacy of screening could be improved].

OBJECTIVE

To analyse all cervical smears performed in 1992 to determine the number of tests per age category and to evaluate the efficacy of the test.

DESIGN

Descriptive, retrospective.

SETTING

The Netherlands.

METHOD: Of every cervix smear registered in the Pathological Anatomical National Automised Archives (PALGA) the quality, signs of inflammation, squamous or columnar epithelial abnormalities and other abnormalities were determined (KOPAC code).

RESULTS

In 1992, 784,046 cervix smears were registered, of which 755,844 were KOPAC-coded. Half of the smears came from women younger than 40 years. There was a high frequency of squamous cell abnormalities (II% Pap 2, 2.5% Pap 3a, 0.5% Pap 3b or worse). An accelerated second smear (after 3 months or 1 year) was performed in 14% of the women; 9% underwent > or = 2 cervical smears within 1 year.

CONCLUSION

Related to the frequency of newly diagnosed cervix cancer (700 per year), the efficacy of cytology could be improved by limiting the number of smears and strictly applying the assessment criteria to diminish the number of accelerated second smears. Furthermore, second smears should be subject to strict management, determined by evaluation studies.