Author/Editor		Uršič-Vrščaj, Marjetka
Title		Diagnostične dileme pri začetno patoloških brisih materničnega vratu
Translated title		Diagnostic dilemmas in initially pathologic smears of the cervix uteri
Type		članek
Source		In: Takač I, editor. Mednarodni znanstveni simpozij 50 let Laboratorija za ginekološko citologijo v Mariboru; 2005 jun 17; Maribor. Maribor: Splošna bolnišnica Maribor,
Publication year		2005
Volume		str. 115-20
Language		slo
Abstract		Within a few years of opportune screening, the incidence of cervical cancer (CC) in Slovenia started to fall gradually and remained stable until 1994. From that year, it started to grow again and reached the highest level in 1997 (23.1/100.000). In the last few years, several measures have been taken in order to keep the CC incidence down at the level of other West European countries. According to our analyses, half of the Slovene women are not visiting a gynecologist regularly. We could note from our data that half of the patients in whom CC was diagnosed had been visiting their gynecologist annually. In the 3-year period prior to diagnosis, half of them had three or more cervical smears tested. An issue of particular concern is that two thirds of the results of cervical smear tests showed early pathological changes (atypical squamous cells or mild dyscaryosis) and that one tenth of all patients had normal test results. According to the data of our cytology laboratories, the average percentage of women with atypical squamous cells or mild dyscaryosis is 11.5%. This percentage is a substantial burden for the gynaecologists because they need to perform re-examinations every six months, in accordance with approved recommendations. On the basis of the detection of women infected with high risk HPV, it will be possible to make a selection of women with persistent low-grade cytologic abnormalities who need immediate additional examinations and of those who do not. In view of this specific situation in Slovenia, the management algorithms for HPV triage of women with persistent atypical squamous cells or mild dyscaryosis were proposed. We presume that a decrease in the number of women needing immediate additional examinations by one half or more would be most advantageous. It would contribute to better diagnosis of premalignant cervical diseases and to a more rational expenditure of funds earmarked for these health measures.
Descriptors		CERVIX NEOPLASMS VAGINAL SMEARS PAPILLOMAVIRUS, HUMAN