Long-term follow-up of patients following negative colposcopy: a new gold standard and its implications for cervical screening |
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Authors: | P D Da Forno M R Holbrook D Nunns P A V Shaw |
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Institution: | Department of Histopathology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK. pddfl@le.ac.uk |
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Abstract: | From 1189 colposcopy referrals in 1997 at a single cervical screening centre, 88 women who had no biopsy taken at colposcopy (negative colposcopy) were identified. We followed up these women for a maximum of 4 years and calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) of a single smear before and after follow-up. Using slide review we attempted to correlate the grade of smear leading to colposcopy referral with final outcome. Our results showed that long-term follow-up alters the PPV of cervical cytology. Analysis showed a strong correlation between the review grade of the referring smear and the final outcome after follow-up. From these results we suggest an evidence-based protocol for cervical screening follow-up after negative colposcopy. |
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Keywords: | cervical cytology colposcopy |
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