Characteristic pattern of pap smears

Seven hundred and two cervical smears were performed at the Cytology Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria on females aged 50 years and above over a 10 year period. Overall, a total of 5,905 smears were performed within this period. The patients were referred from the Gynaecology Outpatient Clinics, the Family Planning and the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinics, or they were self referrals. Overall, 401 (57.1%) of the smears were in asymptomatic women. A total of 265 (37.7%) of the smears were reported as inflammatory changes, while 232 (33.0%) of the smears were normal. The prevalence of CIN was 13.0 per cent in the elderly patients aged 50 years and above and this is higher than the 11.8 per cent reported in the general population in the same centre. One per cent of the patients had invasive carcinoma of the cervix. The need for continued coverage of the vulnerable older female in screening for CIN the precursor of invasive carcinoma of the cervix is highlighted. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 54 (3-4) 2008: pp. 56-60