Evaluating the accuracy of uterine cancer screening with the regional cancer registration system.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of uterine cancer screening by analyzing the accuracy of cervical and endometrial cytodiagnoses as screening methods.

STUDY

DESIGN

During the year of April 1, 1991-March 31, 1992, 186,161 and 5,697 women underwent cervical and endometrial cytodiagnoses, respectively, and their cytodiagnostic results were computer registered at the Miyagi Cancer Society. By comparison of these examinees with 753 cancer patients who were registered at the regional cancer registry between 1991 and 1993, 133 individuals who were assumed to be identical between the two systems were selected, and of these cases, 83 patients, including test-positive cases, were found within one year. The sensitivity and specificity of each screening method were investigated.

RESULTS

Regarding examinees diagnosed as having cancer by the same month in the following year after diagnosis on screening as false negative, the sensitivity, specificity and false negative rates of cervical cytodiagnosis were 94.7%, 98.9% and 5.3%, respectively, and those of endometrial cytodiagnosis were 83.3%, 96.7% and 16.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In comparison with the accuracy of cancer examinations for other organs performed by the health care administration, the accuracy of cervical and endometrial cytodiagnoses was sufficient to designate them screening methods.