Cervical cytological studies associated with Clinical lesions of cervix in Rural women of Lucknow, India

Abstract

Purpose of the study:As the cervical lesions of cervix are supposed to harbor large number of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) cases, it is essential to cytologically examine all such cases especially under rural conditions to check the development of cervical cancer.Basic procedures and methodology:During the ongoing rural cervical cancer screening carried out in the villages of west Lucknow, a total of 2949 women have been cytologicaly examined obtained from the 186 camps held between  March 2013 to February 2020. Cervical lesions were present in 459 and their different types have been analyzed in relation to different risk factors of carcinoma cervix.Important findings:The clinical lesions of cervix present in 459 women (15.5%) were mostly associated with gynecological symptoms (75.6%) and illiteracy (72.8%). The inflammatory changes in the cervix were seen in 29.6% of the women while the SIL rate was 19.3%. Vaginal discharge was the most common gynecological symptom associated with clinical lesions followed by pain in lower abdomen and menstrual disorders. The clinical lesions were mostly seen in the younger women between 16-30 years and were associated with multiparity.Principal  conclusions:As the SIL was associated with large number of clinical lesions of cervix, these lesions should be cytologicaly examined for any advent of premalignancy to check any risk of development of carcinoma cervix. This becomes more imperative in rural women as majority of them are illiterate and had shown clinical lesions at young age.  Hence, there is urgent need of creating awareness regarding different risk factors and importance of cytology for early detection of  cervical cancer.