A comprehensive program for cervical cancer detection and management.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document some of the results of a comprehensive provincial cytology and colposcopy program for the year 1988 and also to review the impact on the incidence and mortality rates for a clinical carcinoma of the cervix.

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a retrospective analysis of the cytologic results of all patients examined provincially in 1988 and a review of the clinical records of patients diagnosed with invasive cancer and those who died of disease.

RESULTS: In 1988 490,985 women (40% of all women over the age of 15 in the population) were screened, with 9.2% showing abnormal cells. A total of 79% of women screened were less than 50 years old and accounted for 86.3% of all abnormal smears. Women less than 35 years old were more likely than older women to have moderate dyskaryosis or worse.

CONCLUSION: Intensive comprehensive cytology and colposcopy programs reduce not only the incidence and mortality of clinical carcinoma of the cervix but also rates of in situ disease and other precursors.