Correlation of Cervical Pap Smear with Biopsy in the Lesion of Cervix

Background Cervical cancer can be controlled to a greater extent by screening to improve morbidity and mortality. Pap smear is important screening method, which has proven to be highly effective in reducing the number of cases and the mortality from cervical carcinoma. Any abnormality detected in pap smear has to be confirmed with cervical biopsy, which remains the reference investigation. Objective To find the changes of cervical cytology by pap smear, to classify cervical lesions into malignant and benign groups on cytological and histopathological basis and to correlate the changes observed in cervical cytology with cervical biopsy. Method This is a prospective cross sectional study done in between July 2014 and July 2015 in Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital. During the period, all the samples requested for pap smear were studied. The cases who had undergone both pap smear and cervical biopsy were compared. Clinical data were obtained from requisition submitted along with the cytology and tissue specimens received in the department. Result During the study period, total 1922 pap smears were performed and out of them 75 patients were advised to do cervical biopsy. On cytology, out of total 1922 number of cases, 67.90% were normal, 27.90% were inflammatory smears, 3.80% were unsatisfactory (inadequate) and 0.40% were high grade intraepithelial lesions. Highest numbers of patients screened for pap smear ranged from 31 to 40 years. On histopathology, 78.70% had chronic cervicitis, 8% had normal findings, 1.30% had moderate and 6.70% had severe squamous intraepithelial lesions. The frank malignancy was found in 5.30%. The mean age ± SD for carcinoma was 52.75±6.29. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value of pap smear were 77.80%, 100%, 100% and 97% respectively considering cervical biopsy as the gold standard Conclusion This study revealed a good correlation of cervical cytology with cervical biopsy. Pap is a cost effective screening method for early detection of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. However, biopsy is considered as the gold standard for the confirmation of abnormalities detected in cervical smear.