Cervical screening test to detect potential cancers
"Pap smear" redirects here. For the American musician, see Pat Smear.
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Papanicolaou test
High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
Specialty
gynaecology
ICD-9-CM
795.00
MeSH
D014626
MedlinePlus
003911
[edit on Wikidata]
The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE),[1]cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE),[2] or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix (opening of the uterus or womb) or, more rarely, anus (in both men and women).[3] Abnormal findings are often followed up by more sensitive diagnostic procedures and, if warranted, interventions that aim to prevent progression to cervical cancer. The test was independently invented in the 1920s by the Greek physician Georgios Papanikolaou and named after him. A simplified version of the test was introduced by the Canadian obstetrician Anna Marion Hilliard in 1957.
A Pap smear is performed by opening the vagina with a speculum and collecting cells at the outer opening of the cervix at the transformation zone (where the outer squamous cervical cells meet the inner glandular endocervical cells), using an Ayre spatula or a cytobrush. The collected cells are examined under a microscope to look for abnormalities. The test aims to detect potentially precancerous changes (called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical dysplasia; the squamous intraepithelial lesion system (SIL) is also used to describe abnormalities) caused by human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted DNA virus. The test remains an effective, widely used method for early detection of precancer and cervical cancer. While the test may also detect infections and abnormalities in the endocervix and endometrium, it is not designed to do so.
Guidelines on when to begin Pap smear screening are varied, but usually begin in adulthood. Guidelines on frequency vary from every three to five years.[4][5][6] If results are abnormal, and depending on the nature of the abnormality, the test may need to be repeated in six to twelve months.[7] If the abnormality requires closer scrutiny, the patient may be referred for detailed inspection of the cervix by colposcopy, which magnifies the view of the cervix, vagina and vulva surfaces. The person may also be referred for HPV DNA testing, which can serve as an adjunct to Pap testing. In some countries, viral DNA is checked for first, before checking for abnormal cells.[8] Additional biomarkers that may be applied as ancillary tests with the Pap test are evolving.[9]
^"Pap Smear: MedlinePlus Lab Test Information". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
^"STD Facts - HPV and Men". www.cdc.gov. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
^Moyer, VA; U.S. Preventive Services Task, Force (Jun 19, 2012). "Screening for cervical cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement". Annals of Internal Medicine. 156 (12): 880–91, W312. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-156-12-201206190-00424. PMID 22711081. S2CID 36965456.
^Cite error: The named reference Saslow2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^American Cancer Society. (2010). Detailed Guide: Cervical Cancer. Can cervical cancer be prevented? Retrieved August 8, 2011.
^The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2009). "ACOG Education Pamphlet AP085 – The Pap Test". Washington, DC. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
^Group, In collaboration with PA Media (2016-07-05). "Cervical cancer screening in England to use 'more accurate' viral DNA test". Cancer Research UK - Cancer News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
^Shidham, VinodB; Mehrotra, Ravi; Varsegi, George; D′Amore, KristaL; Hunt, Bryan; Narayan, Raj (2011-01-01). "p16 INK4a immunocytochemistry on cell blocks as an adjunct to cervical cytology: Potential reflex testing on specially prepared cell blocks from residual liquid-based cytology specimens". CytoJournal. 8 (1): 1. doi:10.4103/1742-6413.76379. PMC 45765. PMID 21369522.
The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Paptest, also known as Pap smear (AE), cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), or smear test (BE)) is a method...
most notable for its use in the detection of cervical cancer in the Paptest or Pap smear, it is also used to stain non-gynecological specimen preparations...
Look up pap or PAP in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. PAP or Pap may refer to: Ancient Pap, an archaeological site in Uzbekistan Pap, Hungary, a village...
ages of 9–13 years. Cervical cancer screening, such as the Papanicolaou test ("pap smear"), or examination of the cervix after applying acetic acid, can...
became known for his invention of the Papanicolaou test, commonly known as the Pap smear or Paptest, which is used worldwide for the detection and prevention...
Paptests. Other methods of prevention include having few or no sexual partners and the use of condoms. Cervical cancer screening using the Paptest or...
cytopathology is the Pap smear, a screening tool used to detect precancerous cervical lesions that may lead to cervical cancer. Cytopathologic tests are sometimes...
virus (HPV) strains. Cytologic tests include conventional Pap smear and liquid based cytology. Visual Inspection tests involve application of a solution...
reproductive system. Such exams may include the Paptest (or cervical smear). In the United States, Paptest screening is recommended starting around 21 years...
Georgios Papanikolaou, the Greek pathologist who independently invented the paptest. For 21 years, Mary Papanikolaou volunteered to have her cervix sampled...
Paping (pronounced pah ping) is a computer network administration utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network...
collected to screen for sexually transmitted infections or cancer (the Paptest). Some clinicians perform a pelvic exam as part of routine preventive care...
colorectal cancer screening, a Paptest (to check for cervical cancer), and screening for osteoporosis. Genetic testing can also be performed to screen...
Babes in 1927. In some parts of the developed world including the UK, the Paptest has been superseded with liquid-based cytology. An inexpensive, cost-effective...
includes the examination of samples collected from the uterine cervix (Paptest), lung, gastrointestinal tract, or body cavities. A cytotechnologist is...
female genital tract. The most common investigation in this field is the Paptest, which is used to screen for potentially precancerous lesions of the cervix...
infants. If the mother has active herpes simplex (as may be suggested by a paptest), delivery by Caesarean section can prevent the newborn from contact, and...
intraepithelial neoplasia or carcinoma in situ. It is usually diagnosed following a Paptest. In some cases these lesions can lead to invasive cervical cancer, if not...
Auschwitz. Most women undergo a colposcopy to further investigate an abnormal paptest result (cytological). Other reasons for a patient to have a colposcopy...
used to test the purity of a certain cell line. For example, HeLa CCL-2 is a common cell line used in a wide variety of research areas. To test the purity...
a Paptest for cervical cancer screening. A Patient Navigation Program implemented in San Francisco for Hmong Americans led to a 38% increase in Pap test...
cases are due to natural causes. Often, additional tests such as toxicology, histology, and genetic testing will be used to help the pathologist determine...
of ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) on the Paptest. On a subsequent biopsy, given the diagnosis of ASAP, the chance of finding...
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