ABSTRACT
The gynecologic pap test is one of the most successful tests ever developed for reducing the incidence of cancer of the uterine cervix. Despite this undisputed fact, cervical cancer is still present in unacceptably high numbers in the United States. A review of the gynecologic Pap test is presented. Data show that the high incidence of cervical cancer in the US is attributed mostly to failure on the part of the client, with smaller but significant failures on the parts of the healthcare provider and medical laboratory. The only way to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer is to increase the screening rate of patients at risk.
Subject(s)
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis , Vaginal Smears , Diagnostic Errors , Female , History, 20th Century , Humans , Risk Factors , United States/epidemiology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control , Vaginal Smears/history , Vaginal Smears/statistics & numerical data , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/diagnosis , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/epidemiology , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Cellular components in peritoneal fluid of infertile patients with and without endometriosis were evaluated in 102 patients with Wright's-Giemsa and Papanicolaou stains. The secretory activity of these cells was studied indirectly by assaying acid phosphatase, prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha and PGE2 and complement components C3c and C4. The results showed that macrophages and lymphocytes were the dominant cells in peritoneal fluid of these patients. These cells were significantly increased in endometriosis patients, as compared with control subjects. In addition, peritoneal fluid acid phosphatase, PGF2 alpha and PGE2, and complement components C3c and C4 were significantly increased in patients with endometriosis. These cellular changes and their activation in peritoneal fluid may explain infertility associated with endometriosis.
