BUILDING UP A COMPUTERIZED FOLLOW-UP REGISTER AND INFORMATION-SYSTEM FOR CERVICAL CYTOLOGY

It is well known that cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (GIN) and hum an papilloma virus (HPV) infection are closely related to cervical can cer. The cervical cytology examination (pap-test), followed by a colpo scopic examination and a biopsy are the common tools for the early det ection and the establishment of diagnosis of the cervical precancerous lesions. The monitoring and surveillance of those precancerous lesion s is essential for the prevention of cervical cancer and for effective patient management. Nowadays, the long-term care of patients with a c hronic and/or serious disease is feasible with the use of computerized follow-up registers or through more complex information systems. Neve rtheless, manual recording is still the predominant method of data col lection in 'Alexandra' University Hospital and this is the case in mos t health services in Greece due to scarcity of resources. A 'circulati ng' outpatient card, where information on gynecologic cytology, colpos copy and biopsy examinations is recorded, was the basis for the develo pment of a computerised follow-up register and information system for cervical cytology in the Department of Cytopathology.