Conventional Pap Smear and Liquid Based Cytology for Cervical Cancer Screening - A Comparative Study

Background: The Conventional pap smear has been utilized for cervical cancer screening for more than 50 years. Despite being credited with a 70% reduction in mortality for cervical cancer, the false negative rate is still a cause for concern. It is widely acknowledged that two third of the overall false negative rate can be attributed to sampling errors. Liquid based cytology has been developed to address the sampling problems of conventional pap smear. The aim of the study was to compare conventional pap smear and Liquid based cytology for cervical cancer screening. Method: Prospective comparative study of 200 Women who are sexually active and reported to the OPD for gynecological consultation, in the age group of 21-65 years at MGM Women and Children's Hospital, Kalamboli Both conventional pap and liquid based cytology was performed on the same patient. Results: LBC was found to be a better alternative to conventional smear because of lower rate of unsatisfactory smears. Also, it has advantages of less obscuring by blood, mucus material and inflammatory cells. Conclusion: Liquid based cytology is strongly advocated in the best interest of public health, by improving the quality of the sample and reducing the likelihood of false negative cytology results. Thus, it will significantly improve early detection and treatment of cervical lesions.