Cervical cytologic screening among females with nongynecologic hospital admissions

Routine vaginal cytologic screening in nongynecologic admissions to Tygerberg Hospital revealed a detection rate for pelvic neoplasia of 9.3/1000 patients. Of these, 22 (16%) did not derive any benefit from this program because of the severity of the primary extrapelvic disease. However, 57% of those detected were still in the in situ stage and should have a 100% 5-year survival. The treatment was considered to be complete in 54.4% of the cases. As this service is performed by nursing personnel as part of their daily duty, this program seems to be a sound economic proposition.