Prevalence of cervical cellular abnormalities by liquid based cytology in Taif province: a hospital based study

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the cervical cellular Abnormalities using liquid based thin-layer preparations as screening test for women who attended the gynaecology outpatient clinic at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia. In this retrospective chart review study, we reviewed the records and data of all women for whom liquid base cytological studies were performed as screening test to detect the cervical cellular abnormalities at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia from June 2010 to June 2012. The total number of women for whom liquid base, thin-layer cytological studies were performedwas 2168 patients 79.9% of them were symptomatic. The mean age was 38.6 years. Liquid based thin-layer preparations were used for all patients. Cervical abnormality was seen in 25.6% of the patients, of which 6.5% were malignant or premalignant and 19.1% were of benign nature. Liquid-based, thin-layer cytology reduces sampling and preparation errors of the conventional smear; however, screening should include human papilloma virus [HPV], DNA testing to increase the sensitivity and specificity of primary screening