FALSE-NEGATIVE CYTOLOGY RATES IN PATIENTS IN WHOM INVASIVE CERVICAL-CANCER SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (1) , 41-45
Abstract
The 3-yr screening interval recommended by the American Cancer Society would appear to decrease the detection of premalignant and malignant disease. Of the study patients who subsequently developed invasive cervical cancer 20% had at least 2 negative Papanicolaou smears within 3 yr of the diagnosis of cancer. Moreover, the majority of false-negative results in the series could be attributed to sample error. Yearly or at least biennial cervical cytologic screening is recommended.