Retrospective evaluation of cervical smears in women harbouring biopsy proven SIL

Detection and evaluation of cervical pre-neoplasia is the purpose of cervical cytologic screening in the prevention of death from cervical carcinoma. This investigation is an attempt to evaluate previously taken cervical smears in women harbouring a biopsy proven squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). All cervical smears sampled during 4 years prior to biopsy as well as some of the smears during a 5 year follow-up were re-examined for 208 women who in a defined geographical area, the County of Gävleborg, in 1988 had a biopsy proven squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). The present study shows that a patient with a LSIL in the Pap smear is at high risk of harbouring or developing cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia.