Diagnostic accuracy of Conventional Cervical Cytology (papanicolau smear), Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) and Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) in detecting premalignant and malignant cervical lesions among Filipino women in a tertiary hospital / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

ABSTRACT

Objective@#Cervical cancer screening can reduce both the incidence and mortality rates of the disease. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of conventional cytology, liquid based cytology and visual inspection with acetic acid in detecting pre-malignant and malignant cervical lesions. @*Methods@#There were 249 patients who participated in the study. Of these, 6/249 (2.4%) turned out positive in papsmear, 7/249 (2.8%) turned out positive in liquid based cytology while 23/249 (9.2%) turned out positive in visual inspection with acetic acid. Colposcopic guided cervical biopsy was done on all 249 patients to confirm the results. @*Results@#Fourteen turned out positive for cervical intraepthelial neoplasia, 1 patient had carcinoma in situ and 1 was positive for squamous cell carcinoma. @*Conclusion@#Among the three screening tests, VIA appears to be the most accurate, followed by liquid based cytology as compared to the conventional papsmear.