Abstract
Objective: The study aims to characterize loss to follow-up of women with initial cytological diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, possibly non-neoplastic (ASC-US), or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), in Tocantins State, Brazil, from 2011 to 2013. Study Design: Cervical cytology data from the Information System on Uterine Cervical Cancer (SISCOLO) was used to identify women with initial diagnosis of ASC-US or LSIL in 2011. Nominal database record linkage was used to identify women with previous altered Pap smear results (who were excluded) and those who returned (versus failed to return) by the year 2013. Results: Record linkage identified 1,174 women with diagnoses of ASC-US (65.9%) or LSIL (34.1%) and without previous altered tests. According to the data, 55.9% and 53.5%, respectively, failed to undergo follow-up tests in the subsequent years. Conclusion: Failure to return for repeat cervical cytology suggests a missed opportunity for diagnosis and treatment of women with precursor lesions or cervical cancer not detected in the initial cytology, thus compromising the effectiveness of cervical cancer control in the State of Tocantins.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
