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Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in screening for and follow-up of cervical cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nanda, K; McCrory, DC; Myers, ER; Bastian, LA; Hasselblad, V; Hickey, JD; Matchar, DB
Published in: Ann Intern Med
May 16, 2000

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of conventional and new methods of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing when used to detect cervical cancer and its precursors. DATA SOURCES: Systematic search of English-language literature through October 1999 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, other computerized databases, and hand searching. STUDY SELECTION: All studies that compared Pap testing (conventional methods, computer screening or rescreening, or monolayer cytology) with a concurrent reference standard (histologic examination, colposcopy, or cytology). DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently reviewed selection criteria and completed 2 x 2 tables for each study. DATA SYNTHESIS: 94 studies of the conventional Pap test and three studies of monolayer cytology met inclusion criteria. No studies of computerized screening were included. Data were organized by cytologic and histologic thresholds used to define disease. For conventional Pap tests, estimates of sensitivity and specificity varied greatly in individual studies. Methodologic quality and frequency of histologic abnormalities also varied greatly between studies. In the 12 studies with the least biased estimates, sensitivity ranged from 30% to 87% and specificity ranged from 86% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient high-quality data exist to estimate test operating characteristics of new cytologic methods for cervical screening. Future studies of these technologies should apply adequate reference standards. Most studies of the conventional Pap test are severely biased: The best estimates suggest that it is only moderately accurate and does not achieve concurrently high sensitivity and specificity. Cost-effectiveness models of cervical cancer screening should use more conservative estimates of Pap test sensitivity.

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Published In

Ann Intern Med

DOI

ISSN

0003-4819

Publication Date

May 16, 2000

Volume

132

Issue

10

Start / End Page

810 / 819

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaginal Smears
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Papanicolaou Test
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
  • Cervix Uteri
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Nanda, K., McCrory, D. C., Myers, E. R., Bastian, L. A., Hasselblad, V., Hickey, J. D., & Matchar, D. B. (2000). Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in screening for and follow-up of cervical cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med, 132(10), 810–819. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-132-10-200005160-00009
Nanda, K., D. C. McCrory, E. R. Myers, L. A. Bastian, V. Hasselblad, J. D. Hickey, and D. B. Matchar. “Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in screening for and follow-up of cervical cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review.Ann Intern Med 132, no. 10 (May 16, 2000): 810–19. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-132-10-200005160-00009.
Nanda K, McCrory DC, Myers ER, Bastian LA, Hasselblad V, Hickey JD, et al. Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in screening for and follow-up of cervical cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2000 May 16;132(10):810–9.
Nanda, K., et al. “Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in screening for and follow-up of cervical cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review.Ann Intern Med, vol. 132, no. 10, May 2000, pp. 810–19. Pubmed, doi:10.7326/0003-4819-132-10-200005160-00009.
Nanda K, McCrory DC, Myers ER, Bastian LA, Hasselblad V, Hickey JD, Matchar DB. Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in screening for and follow-up of cervical cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2000 May 16;132(10):810–819.

Published In

Ann Intern Med

DOI

ISSN

0003-4819

Publication Date

May 16, 2000

Volume

132

Issue

10

Start / End Page

810 / 819

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaginal Smears
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Papanicolaou Test
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
  • Cervix Uteri