INVASIVE CANCER OF THE CERVIX IN WOMEN WITH MILD DYSKARYOSIS FOLLOWEDUP CYTOLOGICALLY

Mildly dyskaryotic smears are common, and women with such results are often followed up with further cervical smear tests. An important cons ideration in evaluating this practice would be the annual incidence of invasive cervical cancer. A reanalysis of five previous studies of th e cytological follow up of women with mildly abnormal smear test resul ts was undertaken to calculate this incidence. The annual incidence of invasive cancer in these women ranged from 0 to 420 per 100 000 women years. The large studies providing the most precise estimates had ann ual rates of 143 to 420 per 100 000 women years. This is 16 to 47 time s greater than in-women aged 15-34 years in England and Wales. The ave rage rate was 208 per 100 000 women years. Women with mild dyskaryosis are at high risk of developing invasive cervical cancer despite cytol ogical follow up. A full appraisal of the costs and benefits of colpos copy in this situation is urgently required.