Follow-up of women with inadequate Pap smears: a prospective cohort study / Acompanhamento de mulheres com esfregaços de Papanicolaou inadequados: um estudo prospectivo de coorte

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Inadequate Pap smears do not provide satisfactory cell samples for evaluation, thus making it more difficult to detect cervical cytological abnormalities. The objective of this study was to determine the cytological and histological follow-up results from women with inadequate smear reports in primary healthcare centers in Santiago, Chile 2010-2011. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study at primary healthcare clinics in Santiago, Chile. METHODS: The population was taken from the “Cito-Expert" database of 2010. The data were then organized according to the cytological and histological follow-up results of 2,547 women with inadequate cervical cytological reports over the 12-month period. The samples were assigned to groups based on the cause of inadequacy (smears with endocervical cells alone; insufficient, hemorrhagic, inflammatory or poorly fixed samples; insufficient and hemorrhagic samples; or insufficient and inflammatory specimens). The data were analyzed using the “conditional probability tree diagram" and descriptive statistics. RESULT: Half of the women (n = 1,285) met the requirements of the Ministry of Health for repeating these inadequate smears, and 1,104 of these women had normal cytological results (85.9%). The detection rate for cervical lesions according to group ranged ...

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Esfregaços inadequados de Papanicolaou não fornecem amostra satisfatória de células para avaliação, ficando assim mais difícil detectar anomalias citológicas cervicais. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar os resultados de seguimento citológico e histológico de mulheres com relatórios de esfregaços inadequados nas unidades básicas de saúde em Santiago, Chile, 2010-2011. DESENHO E LOCAL: Estudo prospectivo de coorte em unidades básicas de saúde em Santiago, Chile. MÉTODOS: A população foi selecionada do banco de dados Cito-Expert em 2010. Na sequência, os dados foram organizados pelos resultados de seguimento citológico e histológico de 2.547 mulheres com relatórios inadequados de citologia cervical pelo período de 12 meses. As amostras foram atri-buídas a grupos com base na causa de inadequação (esfregaços com células endocervicais; amostras insuficientes, inflamatórias, ou com má fixação, amostras insuficientes e hemorrágicas, ou espéci-mes insuficientes e inflamatórios). Os dados foram analisados com base no “conditional probability tree diagram" e estatísticas descritivas. RESULTADOS: Metade das mulheres (n = 1.285) preencheram os requisitos ...

Comprehensive evaluation of cervical cancer screening programs: the case of Colombia

OBJECTIVE: To identify critical screening program factors for reducing cervical cancer mortality in Colombia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Coverage, quality, and screening follow-up were evaluated in four Colombian states with different mortality rates. A case-control study (invasive cancer and healthy controls) evaluating screening history was performed. RESULTS: 3-year cytology coverage was 72.7 percent, false negative rate 49 percent, positive cytology follow-up 64.2 percent. There was no association between screening history and invasive cancer in two states having high cytology coverage but high false negative rates. Two states revealed association between deficient screening history and invasive cancer as well as lower positive-cytology follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced number of visits between screening and treatment is more relevant when low access to health care is present. Improved quality is a priority if access to screening is available. Suitable interventions for specific scenarios and proper appraisal of new technologies are compulsory to improve cervical cancer screening. Comprehensive process-failure audits among invasive cancer cases could improve program evaluation since mortality is a late outcome.

OBJETIVO: Identificar factores críticos para reducir la mortalidad por cáncer cervical en Colombia. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se evaluó cobertura, calidad y seguimiento del tamizaje en cuatro departamentos con tasas de mortalidad diferenciales. Un estudio de casos (cáncer invasor) y controles (sanos) evaluó historia de tamizaje. RESULTADOS: Cobertura 72,7 por ciento; falsos negativos 49 por ciento; acceso a diagnóstico-tratamiento de HSIL 64,2 por ciento. La historia de tamizaje no se asoció con cáncer invasor en dos departamentos con elevada cobertura pero elevada proporción de falsos negativos. Dos departamentos con asociación entre historia de tamizaje deficiente y cáncer invasor tuvieron cobertura aceptable pero bajo acceso a diagnóstico-tratamiento. No hubo relación entre mortalidad y desempeño del programa. CONCLUSIONES: Reducir visitas entre tamizaje y tratamiento es prioritario ante bajo acceso a los servicios. Incrementar calidad es prioritario si hay adecuado acceso al tamizaje. Intervenciones y tecnologías apropiadas a cada contexto son indispensables para obtener mejores resultados. Vigilar integralmente el cáncer invasor contribuye a la evaluación de los programas por ser un desenlace más temprano que la mortalidad.

Avaliação crítica das nomenclaturas diagnósticas dos exames citopatológicos cervicais utilizadas no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) / Critical evaluation of the diagnostic nomenclatures of cervical cytopathological exams used in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)

OBJETIVO: identificar as nomenclaturas diagnósticas dos exames citopatológicos cervicais utilizadas pelos laboratórios que atendem o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e participantes do Monitoramento Externo de Qualidade (MEQ). Avaliar as informações adquiridas de profissionais ginecologistas que atuam no SUS sobre os tipos de classificação diagnóstica que recebem nos laudos citopatológicos cervicais. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados 94 laudos citopatológicos liberados pelos laboratórios participantes do MEQ no Estado de São Paulo e 126 questionários aplicados aos ginecologistas que atenderam o SUS. RESULTADOS: dos 94 laboratórios, 81 (86,2 por cento) utilizam uma única nomenclatura diagnóstica: 79 (97,6 por cento) utilizam a Nomenclatura Brasileira para Laudos Citopatológicos (NBLC), 1 (1,2 por cento) utiliza a classificação de Papanicolaou e 1 (1,2 por cento) utiliza a de Richart. Dos 13 (13,8 por cento) laboratórios que utilizam mais de uma nomenclatura, 5 apresentam 2 tipos, e 8, de 3 a 4, 9 dos quais incluem a classificação de Papanicolaou. O estudo demonstrou que 52 (55,3 por cento) laboratórios apresentaram mais de um diagnóstico descritivo num mesmo laudo. Dos 126 ginecologistas que responderam ao questionário de avaliação dos laudos citopatológicos, 78 (61,9 por cento) disseram receber laudos dos laboratórios com apenas uma classificação diagnóstica, 48 (38,1 por cento), laudos com mais de uma classificação, e 2 receberam as 4 classificações. Entre os 93 (73,8 por cento) ginecologistas que preferem uma classificação, 56 (60,2 por cento) alegaram que a NBLC contribui para a conduta clínica, 13 (14,0 por cento) optaram pela nomenclatura de Richart, 8 (8,6 por cento), de Reagan e 16 (17,2 por cento), a de Papanicolaou. De 33 (26,2 por cento) ginecologistas que preferem mais de uma nomenclatura, 5 optaram pelas 4 classificações...

PURPOSE: to identify the nomenclature for reporting cervical cytological diagnoses used by laboratories which render services to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and which participate in External Quality Monitoring (MEQ). To evaluate the information acquired from gynecologists of the SUS regarding the various diagnostic classifications that they receive in the cervical cytology diagnostic reports. METHODS: we evaluated 94 cytology reports issued by laboratories which participate in the MEQ in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and 126 questionnaires applied to gynecologists who work for the SUS. RESULTS: out of the 94 laboratories, 81 (86.2 percent) use one diagnostic classification: 79 (97.6 percent) use the Brazilian Nomenclature for Cytological Reports (NBLC), 1 (1.2 percent) uses the Papanicolaou classification and 1 (1.2 percent) uses the Richart diagnostic classification. Of the 13 (13.8 percent) laboratories that use more than one classification, 5 use 2 types and 8 use 3 to 4 types, with 9 including the Papanicolau diagnostic classification. The study showed that 52 (55.3 percent) laboratories presented more than one descriptive diagnosis in the same report. Out of the 126 gynecologists who filled out a questionnaire evaluating the cytopathology reports, 78 (61.9 percent) stated that they received laboratory reports with only one diagnostic classification, 48 (38.1 percent) received reports with more than one classification and 2 received reports with all 4 classifications. Among the 93 (73.8 percent) gynecologists who prefer only one classification, 56 (60.2 percent) claimed that the NBLC contributes to clinical practice, 13 (14.0 percent) opted for the Richart classification, 8 (8.6 percent) for the Reagan classification and 16 (17.2 percent) for the Papanicolaou classification. Out of 33 (26.2 percent) gynecologists who prefer more than one classification, 5 opted for the 4 classifications...

Qualidade e desempenho das colpocitologias na prevenção de câncer de colo uterino / Quality and performance of pap smears in the cervical cancer screening program in a city of southern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência e analisar a qualidade e o desempenho das colpocitologias realizadas no Programa de Prevenção de Câncer de Colo Uterino no município de Maringá-PR. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo dos dados do SIS-Colo do Ministério da Saúde. Foram analisadas as variáveis idade, resultado de colpocitologia e procedência. As idades foram categorizadas em faixas etárias, a procedência distribuída em cinco regionais de saúde do município de Maringá; a colpocitologia foi categorizada conforme o Sistema Bethesda. Calculou-se a cobertura de colpocitologia dividindo-se o número de exames na população de 25 a 59 anos pelo número de mulheres nesta mesma faixa etária. RESULTADOS: As 17.664 colpocitologias coletadas, no ano de 2005, pela rede pública se distribuíram entre as mulheres com idade mínima de 12 e máxima de 82 anos, sendo 12.961 (73,4 por cento) exames na faixa entre 25 e 59 anos, considerada de maior risco para o câncer. Foram negativos para neoplasia 17.458 (98,84 por cento) exames e as alterações celulares (ASCUS/AGUS, LIEBG, LIEAG e câncer invasor) totalizaram 206 (1,16 por cento). Encontrou-se prevalência de ASCUS de 0,85 por cento (151), de atipias celulares 1,14 por cento (203/17.664) e a relação ASCUS/atipias celulares 2,75 por cento (151/55). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência das alterações colpocitológicas e da ASCUS abaixo dos índices esperados, a relação ASCUS/atipias celulares em níveis elevados, a cobertura populacional insuficiente de colpocitologia compromete o desempenho da prevenção de câncer de colo uterino. A população de baixa condição sócio-econômica requer uma atenção especial e a população mais privilegiada deve ser orientada quanto a periodicidade do exame e faixa etária de maior risco.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate prevalence and analyze quality and performance of colpocytology carried out under the Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective study of the SIS-Colo database of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Variables such as age, colpocytology result and origin were analyzed. Ages were divided into brackets; origin was distributed in five Regional Health Divisions of the city of Maringá; colpocytology was categorized according to the Bethesda System. Colpocytology, coverage was calculated by dividing the number of exams in the population between 25 and 59 years of age by the number of women in that same age group. RESULTS: The 17,664 colpocytology exams collected in 2005 by the public health system were distributed among women between 12 and 82 years of age, with 12,961 (73.4 percent) examinations in women between the ages of 25 and 59, considered at high risk for cancer. A total of 17,458 (98.84 percent) cytological examinations were negative for malignancy, and atypical results (ASCUS / AGUS, LSIL, HSIL and invasive cancer) totaled 206 (1.16 percent). The study found a prevalence of 0.85 percent (151) for ASCUS / AGUS, 1.14 percent (203/17.664) for atypical cells, and a 2.75 ASCUS / atypical cells ratio (151/55). CONCLUSION: The lower than expected prevalence of colpocytological and ASCUS alterations, the high ASCUS / atypical cells ratio and the insufficient population coverage by colpocytology jeopardized the performance of the cervical cancer prevention program. The low-income population requires special attention, and those more privileged should be advised about the frequency of examination and the age bracket with higher risks.

Design and methods of the evaluation of an HPV-based cervical cancer screening strategy in Mexico: The Morelos HPV Study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and methodology of the Morelos HPV Study. The main objective of this study is to examine the use of two different methods for obtaining HPV DNA specimens, self-collected vaginal and clinician-collected cervical, to detect pre-invasive cervical lesions and cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted within the regular population-based framework of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) cervical cancer screening program in Morelos. A total of 7,868 women were recruited between May and October 1999 and are representative of the population of women attending cervical cancer screening services at the 23 IMSS clinics in the state of Morelos in 1999. Women were provided with a detailed description of the study before signing an informed consent form. Basic data were obtained from all participants using a standard IMSS registration form. During the initial recruitment visit, a randomly selected subsample of 1,069 participants were interviewed to collect additional information about cervical cancer risk factors, acceptability of the HPV and Pap tests, as well as patient costs. Before the pelvic exam, participants were asked to provide a self-collected vaginal specimen for HPV testing. All participants underwent a pelvic examination that involved collecting a cervical sample for the Pap smear and a clinician-collected HPV specimen. Data were evaluated from 7,732 women with complete information for the three tests. The 1,147 women who received at least one positive result (Pap, self- and/or clinician-HPV tests) were invited to return for a colposcopic examination. During colposcopy, biopsies were taken as appropriate, to histologically confirm a diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 or invasive cancer. A total of 1,015 women attended colposcopy, and 101 women received a histologically-confirmed CIN 2/3 or cervical cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The initial enrollment activities of the Morelos HPV study are the basis for a prevalent case-control study and a prospective cohort study that will investigate the natural history of HPV infections and determine if an HPV-based screening strategy is a safe and cost-effective alternative to Pap screening.