Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2016; 76 - P191
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593054

Does a short interval between two pap smears significantly affect the result of the second smear?

TM Kolben 1, F Bergauer 2, J Moeckel 3, B Böttcher 1, C Thaler 1, A Crispin 4, T Kolben 1, C Dannecker 1, S Mahner 1, J Gallwas 1
  • 1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhadern, Klinik und Poliklinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, München, Deutschland
  • 2Amedes MVZ für Gynäkologie and Pathologie München GmbH, München, Deutschland
  • 3Labor für Zytodiagnostik, Freiburg, Deutschland
  • 4Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhadern, Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, München, Deutschland

Background: Only limited data is available on the impact of a short interval between two pap smears. Most institutions practice a minimal time span of six to eight weeks before obtaining a second smear. A short interval is commonly believed to be associated with an increase of false-negative results in the second smear.

Methods: Two consecutive pap smears were obtained from 81 women. 41 smears were processed using the conventional technique, whereas liquid-based cytology was used in the remaining 40 women. Smears were evaluated by 4 different cytopathologists. We analyzed the effect of the short time interval, the different processing techniques and individual differences in the cytological evaluation.

Results: There were no significant differences in the cytological evaluation of the two consecutive pap smears (p = 0,07). Further, there were no significant differences between conservative and liquid based cytology (p = 0,31). However, the interobserver variability was high and had a significant impact on the overall results (p < 0,01).

Conclusion: Pap smears can be repeated immediately without a significant impact on the result. Interobserver variability of different cytopathologists is high and should be kept in mind when evaluating cytology results.