Comparative Evaluation of Various Screening Methods for Detecting Pre-invasive Lesions Associated with Carcinoma of The Cervix

Abstract

Background: Owing to the easy examination accessibility of the cervix, cancer screening is easy and can be done in pre-invasive stages allowing conservative and successful management of these lesions by chemoradiotherapy or surgery. Aims: The present trial was carried out to compare various methods available for detecting and screening the pre-invasive lesions of cervical carcinoma including visual cervix examination using Lugol's iodine, visual cervix examination using acetic acid, colposcopy, and pap smear. Materials and Methods: In 80 females of 20-60 years,following history recording, the cervix examination was performed with acetic acid, Lugol's iodine, colposcope, and pap smear. The collected data were subjected to the statistical evaluation and the results were formulated keeping level of significance at p˂0.05. Results: Only 2.5% (n=2) subjects had cervix with no abnormality, whereas 56.25% (n=45) females had cervicitis, 22.5% (n=18) subjects had Intraepithelial carcinoma-1, 16.25% (n=13) had Intraepithelial carcinoma-2/3, and 2 (2.5%) subjects had confirmed Micro invasive carcinoma using Lugol's iodine and acetic acid with a visual examination, pap smear, and colposcopy. Conclusion: The study concludes that pap smear cytology, visual examination, and colposcopy used collectively has higher detection probability of pre-invasive and invasive lesion compared to when used individually.