Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cytological smears of the vulva correlate with vulvar biopsies of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias (VINs).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective chart review (1995-2000) was performed to identify cases of VIN and vulvar carcinoma and to correlate vulvar Pap smears with biopsy results.
RESULTS
Four hundred vulvar Pap smears were identified. Fifty of these patients had concomitant vulvar biopsies, and these cases constitute our study group. Twenty-two of these 50 women had biopsy-proven VIN or vulvar carcinoma. Only 7 (32%) of 22 patients with biopsy-proven disease had a vulvar Pap smear significant for VIN or vulvar carcinoma. The kappa statistic was 0.30 (95% CI=0.08-0.52), indicating poor agreement between vulvar cytology and biopsy results.
CONCLUSIONS
Vulvar cytological evaluation did not correlate well with tissue diagnosis of VIN; and thus, our findings do not support the use of vulvar cytology in the clinical management of VIN.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Bae-Jump VL, Bauer M, Van Le L

Institution

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of OB/GYN, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7570, USA.

Source

Journal of lower genital tract disease 11:1 2007 Jan pg 8-11

MeSH

Adult
Biopsy
Carcinoma in Situ
Female
Humans
Precancerous Conditions
Retrospective Studies
Vaginal Smears
Vulvar Neoplasms

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17194944