SIGNIFICANCE OF AGE IN COLPOSCOPIC EVALUATION OF WOMEN WITH ATYPICAL PAPANICOLAOU SMEARS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (1) , 61-64
Abstract
As women age, atypical Papanicolaou smears are associated with more advanced cervical neoplasia. The woman under age 30 has less than 1 chance in a 100 of having invasive carcinoma if she has an atypical Papanicolaou smear, while the women over age 60 has 1 chance in 6 of this finding. An atypical Papanicolaou smear does not necessarily mean neoplasia is present; 23% of the women evaluated for atypical smears had a negative evaluation, and this included women over age 60. Endocervical currettings containing neoplastic tissue frequently are seen after age 30 and may contribute significant information to the final diagnosis; stenosis of the endocervix may prevent curettage in postmenopausal women. Diagnostic conizations of the cervix rarely are necessary prior to age 30 if colposcopic technics are used. The need for conizations increases by decade of age and is required in at least 1/3 of postmenopausal women evaluated initially by colposcopy.

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