Liquid Based Cytology versus Conventional Cytology for Evaluation of Cervical PAP Smear

Abstract

The cervix is the narrow inferior segment of the uterus which projects into the vaginal vault.  Conventional cervical cytology is a simple, cost effective method that has been in use for more than 50 years and is still a highly effective cervical cancer screening procedure. Liquid-based, thin-layer preparation of cervical cytology specimens was a subsequent modification in technique. The present study was split-sample study was to compare Thin Prep Liquid-based Cytology with Conventional Pap Smear, relying on a laboratory with long term experience of the former. In our study most of the Conventional preparations showed cell overlapping, inflammatory cells, blood and mucus that obscure the epithelial cell  morphology  which  was much reduced in Liquid based preparations.