Revisiting the effect of the Pap test on cervical cancer

Objectives. This report documents the effect of not having had a Papanicolaou (Pap) test on survival with uterine cervical squamous carcinoma. Methods. Data were derived from Charity Hospital of Louisiana at New Orleans Tumor Registry reports for 1984-1987 and 1996, Results. During the 5 study years, 101 of 213 women (47%) with invasive carcinoma had not undergone a previous Pap test. From 1984 to 1987. the observed 5-year survival rate for 171 patients with invasive carcinoma was 43%. The observed 5-year rate for 107 patients with carcinoma in situ from 1984 to 1986 was 99%. Conclusions. The goal of a yearly Pap test for all women can be approached by a number of different routes, with the use of all health facilities augmented with collection of specimens by trained nonphysician personnel.