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LSIL (CIN 1), Cervical Biopsy. Pathological and histological images courtesy of Ed Uthman at flickr. Date: 17 July 2009, 11:41: Source: LSIL (CIN 1), Cervical Biopsy. Uploaded by CFCF; Author: Ed Uthman from Houston, TX, USA
The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), [1] cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), [2] or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix (opening of the uterus or womb) or, more rarely, anus (in both men and women). [3]
Although most notable for its use in the detection of cervical cancer in the Pap test or Pap smear, it is also used to stain non-gynecological specimen preparations from a variety of bodily secretions and from small needle biopsies of organs and tissues. [4] [5] Papanicolaou published three formulations of this stain in 1942, 1954, and 1960. [2]
Cervicography is a diagnostic medical procedure in which a non-physician takes pictures of the cervix and submits them to a physician for interpretation. Other related procedures are speculoscopy and colposcopy. The procedure is considered a screening test for cervical cancer and is complementary to Pap smear.
Endocervical curettage is a procedure in which the mucous membrane of the cervical canal is scraped using a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. The procedure is used to test for abnormal, precancerous conditions, or cervical cancer. [1] The procedure is generally performed after an abnormal pap smear to further assess the tissue.
For example, a common application of cytopathology is the Pap smear, a screening tool used to detect precancerous cervical lesions that may lead to cervical cancer. Cytopathologic tests are sometimes called smear tests because the samples may be smeared across a glass microscope slide [4] for subsequent staining and microscopic examination.
Cervical cancer typically develops from precancerous changes called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia over 10 to 20 years. [3] About 90% of cervical cancer cases are squamous cell carcinomas, 10% are adenocarcinoma, and a small number are other types. [4] Diagnosis is typically by cervical screening followed by a biopsy. [2]
Cervical conization refers to an excision of a cone-shaped portion of tissue from the mucous membrane of the cervix. Conization is used for diagnostic purposes as part of a biopsy and for therapeutic purposes to remove pre-cancerous cells (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) or early stage cervical cancer. [1] Types include: [2] [3]