Current Concepts

Cytologic Screening for Gynecologic Cancer

Authors: ROBERT W. MUENZER, MD, KITAI KIM, MD

Abstract

In the past 30 years there has been no improvement in the five-year survival rate for endometrial carcinoma. Any change comparable to improved survival in cervical carcinoma will be accomplished only by similar detection of the early asymptomatic and precursor lesions of endometrial carcinoma. Reasons why the conventional Pap smear taken today has only a 25% to 50% screening accuracy for endometrial carcinoma are explained, along with methods to improve these percentages. With our technic, endometrial aspiration cytology has the capabilities of screening for varying stages of endometrial hyperplasia that are considered precursors of endometrial carcinoma, as well as an 85% accuracy rate for screening detection of established endometrial carcinoma. These technics and methods, along with accompanying photographs and photomicrographs of representative cytologic and histologic specimens of varying representative lesions are shown.

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References