Factors associated with reduced accuracy in Papanicolaou tests for patients with invasive cervical cancer

Abstract

Unsatisfactory and suboptimal ThinPrep Pap tests were increased in cancer cases compared with lesser histologic diagnoses. This was found to be particularly true for squamous cancers. Specimens from adenocarcinomas had fewer adequacy problems but were less frequently recognized as malignant. HPV tests were positive in the majority of unsatisfactory Pap tests in women with carcinoma, suggesting that HPV testing in women aged > 30 years can help to identify high-risk women with unsatisfactory Pap tests.