[Satisfactory cervical cytology. Circular exocervical cytologic smears against longitudinal exocervical smears].

BACKGROUND

In the Mexican Institute of Social Security, since 1962 the exocervical sample is normally extended with a circular motion technique (the usual technique). In 2006, the Ministry of Health established that the exocervical sample shall be extended with longitudinal technique (standard technique). We proposed a new technique: the exocervical widespread. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and quality of three techniques.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study in patients who applied for cervical cytology was performed. The variables analized were the exocervical extended technique, the cell coverage and the quality of exocervical sample. Groups were formed according to the exocervical extended technique. Cytology was processed with Papanicolaou technique and reported according to Bethesda System by three observers. Z-test, chi-squared test, Anova and relative risk were used as statistical methods.

RESULTS

The sample size was 213 smears, 71 per group. The inadequate cellular coverage was 2.75 times more frequent with the circular extended technique than with the one we proposed. The exocervical sample quality complies with circular technique; however, with the new tecnique increases 1.5 times (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed widespread technique allows greater possibilities of exocervical cell coverage, ensuring quality-cellularity and decreasing the amount of inadequate smears.