“PREVALENCE OF ABNORMAL CERVICAL CYTOLOGY IN ANTENATAL WOMEN BY LIQUID BASED CYTOLOGY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH INDIA”

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to know the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in pregnant women by liquid-based cytology (LBC). Materials and Methods : Cross sectional study done at a tertiary care hospital in between August 2017 to January 2019.Six hundred pregnant women attending the OPD at their rst visit were enrolled and after taking consent, history and clinical examination , subjected to cervical cancer screening by LBC. Result: Out of 600 samples, 10 samples (1.67%) were unsatisfactory for evaluation due to low cellularity. Among 590 samples, only 2 reported as LSIL(Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) and 588 reported as NILM (Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy). Inammation of varying degree, mild, moderate and dense was reported in 58.65%, 24.92% and 16.44% respectively. Infection was reported in 3.73% and Candida. Discussion: prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology among pregnant women in region was low but screening for cancer cervix should be done for all pregnant women, adverse pregnancy outcomes like premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth and low birth weight.