Cytological examination, the CVF has one major goal: the detection of cervical cancers. Incidentally it will bring more information on a hormonal level and it can also help find certain infectious agents.
The technique:
It must be done before a vaginal examination during a speculum examination. It is preferable that it be practiced early in the cycle and outside of menstruation of any infectious episodes when the cervical mucus is abundant and clear. The pap smear is a simple screening test that can be done by any doctor. It is made using the rounded end of the Ayre spatula or a Cervex Brush. The collected cellular material is either spread on a glass slide to obtain a steady spreading of cells (fixation is done immediately using a spray, projected perpendicularly to the blade, about twenty centimeters away to avoid the detachment of cells) or is placed in a liquid medium (monolayer smear the blade of which is prepared by the laboratory).
Indications, contraindications :
The systematic implementation of a pap smear has set back the frequency of cervical cancer of the uterus which is the fourth cancer in women in France while it remains first in the underdeveloped countries that have not implemented a policy of screening . We must begin to carry out the pap smear at the onset of sexual life. At that time, the smears should be performed annually for 3 years and then, if normal, can be spaced with a smear every 2-3 years (depending on risk factors).We must avoid doing smears in some circumstances: vaginal infection and genital bleeding. The smear is more difficult to interpret: pregnancy, the second half of the cycle and menopause.
Smear results are interpreted according to the Bethesda classification (the most commonly used abbreviations)
Atypical glandular cells AGC (Atypical Glandular Cells); CSA atypical squamous cells (Atypical Squamous Cells), ASC-US atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance), ASC-H atypical squamous cells can not exclude a squamous intraepithelial lesion High-grade (Atypical Squamous Cells Can not exclude HSIL) neoplasia CIN 1 cervical intraepithelial grade 1 (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia), CIN 2 or 3 neoplasm of cervical intraepithelial grade 2 or 3 (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia); CIS carcinoma in situ; HSIL lesion squamous intraepithelial high-grade (Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion High) LSIL squamous intraepithelial lesion (low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Low Grade) NIL / M no intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (Negative for Intraepithelial Lesion or Malignancy);
Les informations fournies sur ce site sont destinées à améliorer, non à remplacer, la relation qui existe entre le patient (ou visiteur du site) et son médecin.
Victor Hugo