Cervical Cancer Screening Services at Tertiary Healthcare Facility: An Alternative Approach

Dhanasekaran, Kavitha; Verma, Chandresh; Kumar, Vipin; Hariprasad, Roopa; Gupta, Ruchika; Gupta, Sanjay; Mehrotra, Ravi

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.4.1265

Cervical Cancer Screening Services at Tertiary Healthcare Facility: An Alternative Approach

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, UP, India.

10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.4.1265

Abstract

Introduction: India fights massive cervical cancer burden. This article highlights an innovative feasible approach
enabling tertiary hospitals to contribute to cancer prevention without compromising their primary mandate to provide
treatment. Methodology: Since 1979, National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) support a tertiary
hospital in cervical cancer screening through a satellite clinic. Record review of 5328 attendees of this clinic between
January-December 2016 was done. Pap-smear testing and reporting were performed by trained NICPR personnel. Patients’
demographics, reproductive history, Pap-test date, cytology results were recorded and results were communicated to
respective units for further management. Results: Among 5328 women screened, 2% (96/5328) had abnormal cytology,
which included malignancy(33%; 32/96), Atypical Squamous Cells-Undetermined Significance(ASC-US) (20%;
19/96), Atypical Glandular Cells(AGC) (23%; 22/96) with complaints of pain in lower abdomen 65.6%(59/90), white
discharge per vaginum 46.7%(42/90) and backache 23.3%(21/90). In which, Muslims- 67% (65/96), illiterates- 58%
(56/96). Age>35(p<0.001), parity>3(p<0.05), illiteracy (p<0.05), Muslim women (p<0.05) had positive association with
abnormal cytology. Conclusion: Awareness about cervical cancer screening is the immediate need in resource-limited
countries. Government hospitals in such countries should house dedicated preventive oncology unit for cancer screening.

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