Cervical cytology in menopausal women at high risk for endometrial disease

Date
1998
Authors
Van Den Bosch T.
Vandendael A.
Wranz P.A.B.
Lombard C.J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of cervical cytology in the diagnosis of endometrial disease in women after menopause. In 128 consecutive menopausal women presenting with uterine bleeding (116) or in whom endometrial cells were found on a previous cervical cytology smear (12), an endo- and ectocervical smear was taken before hysteroscopy with curettage. The results of the cervical cytology were compared with the endometrial histology. Mean age was 59 years. The average duration of menopause was 10 years. Endometrial carcinoma was diagnosed by endometrial sampling in six women. In two of these cases cervical smears did not contain endometrial cells. The presence of endometrial cells on ectocervical cytology showed a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 78% for endometrial carcinoma vs 80% and 76%, respectively, for endocervical cytology. The positive predictive value for endometrial malignancy of the presence of endometrial cells on cervical cytology ranged between 17% and 13%. The presence of 'atypical' endometrial cells on cervical smear was associated with endometrial malignancy in almost half the cases. Cervical cytology is of limited value in the diagnosis and the management of postmenopausal endometrial disease.
Description
Keywords
adult, article, cancer risk, curettage, diagnostic value, disease association, endometrium cancer, female, human, human cell, human tissue, hysteroscopy, major clinical study, menopause, priority journal, uterine cervix cytology, Aged, Carcinoma, Cervix Uteri, Endometrial Neoplasms, Endometrium, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Postmenopause, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity, Vaginal Smears
Citation
European Journal of Cancer Prevention
7
2