Author
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Cervical Cancer is one of the most Common cancers in the world and is primarily diagnosed by pap smear. This study was conducted to determined the effect of endocervix-exocervix order in sampling on pap smear results in women referring to Imamreza Clinic in Mashad, Iran.
Methods and Materials: In this clinical trial, 211 women were conveniently sampled for the study; within a month, their samples of endocervix-exocervix (control) and exocervix-endocervix (case) were obtained. Uninterpretable or limited interpretations of pap smear due to blood, spoiled samples due to dry air or endocervix cells were compared. Chi-square and ratio Comparison were used to determind the significant differences of the quality and efficiency of samples in two methods.
Results: 97.2% of the exocervix-endocervix samples and 96.7% of the opposite-order samples contained endocervix cells, which rendered no significant difference between the two methods (p=0.2). Obscured pap smear results due to blood were found more in endocervix-exocervix samples (p=0.0003). No significant difference was found to exist between the two groups as there were no obscured or limited interpretations due to dry air.
Conclusion: Samples of the exocervix-endocervix order were of better quality
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