Screening for cervical cancer using exfoliative cervical cytology at a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Colombo
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Date
1987
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Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo: PGIM .
Abstract
Squamous cell neoplasia (including cancer precursors) of the uterine cervix is the second most prevalent neoplasm affecting women, after breast cancer in the world as a whole. It is estimated that approximately half a million new cases occur each year (Parkin etal, 1984). It is also the most common cancer in women in developing countries. Since these countries currently contain some three quarters of the global population, the size of the cancer problem, and the investment, needed for its control are likely to increase considerably in the future. Carcinoma of the cervix is one of the best studied human neoplasms. Even though it's epidemiology and natural history are well understood, and there are effective forms of treatment available, the morbidity and mortality continue to increase, especially in those under 35 years (Draper and Cook, 1983) Carcinoma of the cervix is now being considered a sexually transmitted disease (S.T.D.) because, the oncogenic agent, or agents, appear to be sexually transmissible. These agents are thought to act on the cervox during periods of metaplasia (Coppleson and Reid, 1968). such periods are most active at puberty, early pregnancy, and during oral contraceptive use. All the factors of increased risk for this neoplasm are related to coitus, and cervical carcinoma has been shown to be extremely uncommon in virgins and nuns (Rotkin, 1973, Gagnon, 1950). women attending S.T.D. clinics are most vulnerable to developing cervical cancer because, they commonly share two major risk factors: early onset of coitus and multiple sex partners (Rotkin, 1973). therefore it is necessary that these women be screened for cervical cancer in order to control further increases in morbidity and mortality. Exfoliative cervical cytology which forms the basis for such a screening programme, is routinely carried out on female patients attending S.T.D. clinics in the western countries. this facility is available to a greater or lesser extemt in other Asian countries as well. However, cervical cytology screening is not carried out in S.T.D. clinics in Sri Lanka. A literature search also revealed that no previous research has been done on this subject in this country. Taking these factors into consideration, a preliminary study of cervical cytology screening of patients attending a S.T.D. clinic was designed. Objective of the study: General objective to assess the usefulness of screening for cervical pre-cancer and cancer in women attending S.T.D. clinics in Sri Lanka. Specific objectives: (1)To determine the proportion of cervical smears showing abnormal cytology, in women attending the central veneral diseases clinic in Colombo. (2)To describe the different types of abnormalities that are to be found in the abnormal smears. (3)To describe findings in age, sexual history, contraceptive practices, number of pregnancies and S.T.D. diagnossed in the women screened, and to compare this data between those with normal smears and abnormal smear.
Description
Dissertation: M.Sc.(Community Medicine), Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo: PGIM , 1987.
Keywords
Uterine cervical neoplasms
Citation
ABEYEWICKREME, I, Screening for cervical cancer using exfoliative cervical cytology at a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Colombo, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo PGIM , 1987: p.