Cervical cytologic evaluation. And what to do when findings are abnormal

Detection and treatment of cervical carcinoma in the preinvasive stage have increased substantially as a result of the widespread cytologic screening made possible by development of the Papanicolaou test. The numerical system of reporting has been abandoned, and reports are now descriptive and more specific than formerly. Outpatient evaluation of the patient with abnormal cytologic findings has been improved by the use of colposcopy and directed biopsies. Cold cone biopsy is used less frequently than in the past but still has specific indications. Therapy depends on histologic diagnosis and cannot be based on cytologic or colposcopic findings alone.