How useful are cervical Pap smears in detecting endometrial carcinomas? A tertiary cancer center experience

Abstract

Objective To determine the role of routine cervical Pap smears in detecting endometrial carcinomas. Method A retrospective study was carried out from the histopathology archives for cases diagnosed as endometrial carcinomas with Pap smears within 6 months before histological diagnosis. The demographic details, reports of Pap smears and other tumor parameters on histopathology were noted. Results We identified 380 of 482 cases of endometrial carcinoma with a documented Pap smear within 6 months before histopathogical diagnosis. Out of 380 cases, 187 cases (49.2%) had shown abnormalities on Pap smear of which 80 cases (42%) were diagnosed as atypical glandular cells and 78 cases (41.7%) were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. The presence of glandular abnormality on Pap smear significantly correlated with the tumor type, myometrial invasion and cervical involvement on histopathology (P < .05). Cases which had higher FIGO staging also had a higher detection rate on Pap smear (P < .05). Conclusion The Pap smear may help in detection of endometrial carcinoma especially in cases with type 2 endometrial carinomas, tumor with cervical involvement and/or advanced FIGO stage.

The Impact of Cervical Pap Smear on The Prognostic Risk Groups of Endometrial Carcinoma

“…In our study, a total of 12.1% cytological abnormalities were found in 423 patients, 18% of whom were non-endometrioid type tumors, and a borderline significance was found between cervical stromal involvement and smear abnormality. Mehta et al [12] found preoperative abnormal cytology in 49% of 380 patients. Gu M et al [13] evaluated 76 patients in their study, while abnormal Pap smear was associated with FIGO stage, they found no association with age, MI, and LVSI.…”

Exfoliation of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma in Cervical Scrape Smear with Histopathological Correlation

“…The sensitivity of liquid-based cytology (LBC) in detecting endometrial carcinoma ranges from 31.9% to 89.6%. [ 3 ]…”

DNA methylation testing for endometrial cancer detection in urine, cervicovaginal self‐samples and cervical scrapes

“…Yet only 5% to 10% of patients with this common alarming symptom have an underlying malignancy 9 . Another small subset of asymptomatic endometrial cancer patients is detected via a Pap smear obtained during cytology‐based cervical cancer screening or other indications 10‐12 . As cervical cancer screening programs have shifted from cytology to primary testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) in many countries today, the detection of asymptomatic endometrial cancers via Pap testing is declining 13 …”

“…9 Another small subset of asymptomatic endometrial cancer patients is detected via a Pap smear obtained during cytology-based cervical cancer screening or other indications. [10][11][12] As cervical cancer screening programs have shifted from cytology to primary testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) in many countries today, the detection of asymptomatic endometrial cancers via Pap testing is declining. 13 Besides the detection of endometrial cancer in Pap smears, recent cytology research demonstrates that endometrial cancer cells are detectable in vaginal samples 14 and urine 15 by shedding through the cervix into the vaginal debris.…”