Should Liquid-Based Cytology (LBC) be Preferred than Conventional Pap Smear (CPS): A Comparative Analysis.

Objectives: To study the cytomorphological differences of both techniques and to study the relative advantages and limitations of both techniques. Materials: A total of five hundred cases were collected. The conventional Pap smears (CPS) were prepared with cytobrush, and the same brush head was suspended in LBC vial and processed by SurePath. Results: Of the 500 cases studied, the age ranged from 21 to 80 years with a mean of 40.02. The number of satisfactory smears in CPS and LBC was 490 and 496 cases, respectively. In conventional method, 417 cases (83.4%) and LBC 430 cases (86.0%) were inflammatory smears. The number of LSIL was 18 in conventional method and 15 in LBC. HSIL was 11 in CPS and 10 in LBC, and 8 squamous cell carcinoma cases were seen in LBC. Histopathological correlation was observed in 19 cases of which LBC showed sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Conclusion: LBC may be considered better than conventional Pap smear due to better adequacy, clarity of background, detection of infections and increased sensitivity and specificity in detecting LSIL and HSIL.

Study of Risk factors and treatment modalities of ectopic pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: In the past two decades globally, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been increasing exponentially. One of the major triggering factors being the introduction of medical assisted procreation techniques. The present study emphasis more on clinical presentations, risk factors, associated maternal morbidity and mortality with respect to ectopic pregnancy. METHODOLOGY: Patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy in reproductive age group (15-44 years) after clinical examination and investigations during one year period were included in the study. It was a prospective study using contingency table analysis and Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were diagnosed and treated as ectopic pregnancy during the study period. Risk factors were found in 37 patients, of which most common were white discharge per vagina (WDPV) in 20 and tubectomy in 6 patients. PID was seen in 5 and no risk factors in 5 patients. Of the 42 patients, 37 underwent surgery as primary modality of treatment and 5 patients underwent medical management. Only 2 patients had complete resolution with medical management while 3 failed medical management. Post operative period was uneventful. CONCLUSION: As the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been on the rise, screening of high risk cases, early diagnosis and early intervention are required to enhance maternal survival and conservation of reproductive capacity.