PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Woodend

Publications and source records attributed to B Woodend.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Cytological changes preceding cervical cancer.

Cervical smears were reviewed from 62 women who developed squamous carcinoma of the cervix up to 18 years later. The findings indicate that the prevention of cervical cancer by screening depends very largely on the detection of severe dyskaryosis. In this series there was no evidence that mild dyskaryosis was a forerunner of invasive disease. Cytology during the evolution of squamous carcinoma is not characterised by a dyskaryosis which progressively increases in severity. Instead the findings support new concepts that cervical cancer generally arises from an aggressive CIN 3 lesion widely present in the cervix, and in our series, established years before invasion occurs. It would be more useful to report cytology as showing either a low or high grade abnormality rather than distinguishing between different degrees of dyskaryosis.

Adult↗

Negative cytology preceding cervical cancer: causes and prevention.

AIM: To assess the validity of negative cervical smear reports in women who subsequently developed cervical cancer; and to determine means of improving the screening process. METHODS: One hundred and forty cervical smears, initially reported as negative from 103 women, and taken up to 12 years before diagnosis of cervical cancer, were reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety two smears contained dyskaryotic cells. Analysis showed that these smears formed several well defined patterns. False negative reports were likely to occur if fragments of neoplastic tissue rather than dissociated dyskaryotic cells were present or if the smear contained few dyskaryotic cells. Screening fatigue appeared to be a factor in others. It was also considered important that smears contained cells from the endocervix. These were deficient in 64% of the 47 smears confirmed as negative on review and in 69% of smears containing only a few dyskaryotic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Current methods of quality assurance will not remedy these defects in the screening process. It is the responsibility of laboratories to identify sources of poor smears and liaise with smear takers to ensure an improvement in quality. Assessment of the quality of smears received by a laboratory should become an important part of audit. Staff training should place more emphasis on the interpretation of "microbiopsies". The adoption of a quick scanning technique before conventional screening would probably also substantially reduce false negative results.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The changing pattern of cervical cancer in Northern Ireland 1965-1989.

There was a change in pattern of an increased prevalence of cervical cancer in Northern Ireland from 1965 to 1989, characterised by an increased incidence in women under 40 years. These changes occurred despite special screening of younger women, although the screening programme has probably prevented an even greater increase in incidence of the disease. To reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, not only systematic screening but also cervical smears at more frequent intervals would be required.

Adenocarcinoma↗