Abstract:

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of conventional cytology on detecting precancerous lesions in postmenopausal women by comparing the results of colposcopic biopsies of the pre and postmenopausal women with abnormal cervical cytologies.     Methods: Between January 2010 -December 2014 we reviewed patients who underwent colposcopic examination in clinic of obstetrics and gynecology of Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Teaching and Research Hospital retrospectively. The women were evaluated according to menopausal status, abnormal cervical cytologies and colposcopic examination results. NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) for statistical analysis was used. Results: Patient population (n=1658) was composed of 1289 premenopausal (77.7%) and 369 postmenopausal (22.3%) women. According to the results of cervical cytologies; benign Atypical squamous cells - unknown significance (ASCUS), Atypical squamous cells where a high-grade lesion cannot be eliminated (ASC-H) were not found statistically significant between two groups (p>0.05). Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL); in premenopausal group, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in the postmenopausal group were found significantly higher (respectively p= 0.006; p = 0.002; p <0.01). When colposcopic results were evaluated; benign findings in postmenopausal women and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I in premenopausal women were found significantly higher (respectively, p = 0.001; p = 0.001; p <0.05). When postmenopausal patients with ASCUS cytology were evaluated, benign biopsy rate was significantly higher in colposcopy, on the other hand, CIN I ratio was significantly higher in premenopausal group with ASCUS cytology (p=0.007, p <0.01). When patients with LSIL were evaluated, benign biopsy rate in colposcopy was higher in postmenopausal patients, CIN I and CIN II-C III- Squamose cell carsinoma (SCC) rates were found in highly significant in premenopausal patients (p = 0.032; p <0.05). Conclusion: When compared with the premenopausal patients group,         we have reached the conclusion that the conventional cytology has less efficiency in detecting the precancerous lesions            in postmenopausal cases; therefore, colposcopic examination may be appropriate in postmenopausal women. Routine liquid based cytology and HPV screening can achieve clarity in this debate, screening programs should be implemented effectively especially in postmenopausal group and further large scale studies are needed.

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