Follow-Up and Clinical Significance of Unsatisfactory Liquid-Based Papanicolaou Tests

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Cancer Cytopathol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, few studies to date have examined adherence to recommended guidelines for follow-up and outcomes after an unsatisfactory Papanicolaou (Pap) test (UPT) with liquid-based technologies.

METHODS: Within 4 US health plans, the median time to follow-up and the percentage of patients with follow-up testing by 120 days was calculated after a UPT. Multivariable analyses evaluated the association between clinical factors and follow-up testing. The authors compared the risk of a diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of type 2 or worse (CIN2+) after a UPT with the risk after a satisfactory Pap test while controlling for study site, test year, and other covariates.

RESULTS: A total of 634,644 Pap tests performed between 2004 and 2010 were included in the current study. Of 1442 UPTs, 53.4% had follow-up testing within 120 days; follow-up differed across the health plans (P

CONCLUSIONS: Various clinical factors associated with the risk of CIN2+ appear to influence the receipt of follow-up after a UPT. HPV test results in patients with UPTs might be used in follow-up strategies; specifically, a negative test result might reduce the urgency for repeat Pap testing.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Papillomaviridae; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PubMed ID

25346238

Volume

123

Issue

1

First Page

59

Last Page

65

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