Comparing sufficiency of cervical smear using spatula sampling with combined spatula-cytobrush sampling in Kerman Kashani Hospital, 2002

Cytological examination for diagnosis of cervical cancer (one of female genital malignancies) is very important. This experimental study was performed on two groups of 131 women referred to Kashani clinic of Kerman, and the sufficiency of spatula sampling (first group) and combined cytobrush-spatula sampling (second group) for diagnosis of cervical cancer was compared. A questionnaire with three parts was used. The first part consisted of demographic data (age, marriage age, number of previous childbirth, previous gravidity, contraception methods, and previous cervical operations) that was completed by interview. The second part was about the rate of patient’s inconvenience during sampling that was completed by observation. The third part consisted of the indicators of sufficient cervical smear that was completed by the cytologist. Data of the first and second parts were similar between two groups. There was no significant difference between two groups with respect to observing 25 or more cervical canal cells in the smear. But the amount of blood in the smears was significantly different between two groups (P<0.05). Epithelial cells were observed in all smears. Due to less tissue damage and less smear’s blood, preparation of cervical smear with combined method is recommended.