Abstract

Introduction:
Cervical cancer is one of the common cancers in women and
is a major public health problem all over the world. It has


significant contribution to high mortality and morbidity. Pre-
invasive lesions spontaneously regress to normal, remain


stable for a long time or progress to higher degree of dysplasia
followed by carcinoma cervix. Materials And Method This
was a hospital based retrospective study where 456 patients’
records were reviewed. Pap smear was used as the screening
tool for the detection of precancerous lesion among the women
visiting Western Regional Hospital (WRH), Department of
obstetrics and gynecology.


Results: Among 456 patients
screened, most of them were in the age group of 30-39 years
(42.8%) and were of parity 3 (42.8%). Most of them had no risk
factors for carcinoma cervix (54.4%). Early marriage accounted
for the highest risk of developing precancerous lesion (32.7%).
There were no carcinoma detected by Pap smear. The test
was negative in 68.9%, Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial
Lesion (LSIL) was detected in 5.9% and 2.9% had High-grade
Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL). Pap smear was sent
for screening purpose in asymptomatic women (37.1%) and
among the symptomatic patients vaginal discharge was the
most common indication of pap test (34.6%).


Conclusion: A Pap smear is reliable, simple, non-invasive, cost effective, and
easy screening tool for detection of precancerous lesions in a
woman.

Keywords: Cervical cancer, Pap smear, Screening