[Previous cytology in patients with carcinoma of the cervix]

The cytologic history of 317 patients with uterine cancer, in a mass survey using mobile units, was reviewed. They included 152 cases of carcinoma in situ of the cervix, 151 cases of invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix, 11 cases of adenocarcinoma of the cervix, one case of verrucous squamous cell carcinoma and 2 cases of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. There was no history of cytology in 17.1% of CIS or in 29.8% of invasive epidermoid carcinoma in the preceding 3 years (same order in the following); in the preceding 5 years the figures were 24.3% and 23.6% respectively. Suspicious or positive cytology noted more than once were 22.2% and 21.7% in the preceding 3 years, and 24.3% and 23.6% of the cases in the preceding 5 years. At least 2 negative Papanicolaou smears were 19.1% and 20.5% in the preceding 3 years, and 28.3% and 28.5% of the cases in the preceding 5 years. The yearly rate of suspicious and/or positive cytology in the preceding 5 years fluctuated between 13.5% and 30.4% in CIS, and between 9.1% and 23.0% in invasive epidermoid carcinoma. They showed no significant rise or trend. Verrucous squamous cell carcinoma as well as adenocarcinoma of the cervix and of the endometrium not infrequently showed successive negative cytology.