Abstract:
This study was carried out in Khartoum State at the Reproductive Health
Center during the period from December 2006 to June 2008. The study
evaluated Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) versus Conventional Direct Smear DS
in 100 cervical smears using Pap procedure.
Unsatisfactory smears were observed in 2(2%) and 10(10%) in DS and LBC
respectively. Cytological findings identified bacterial infections in 13(13%),
9(9%), Trichomoniasis detected in 6(6%), 4(4%), Candidiasis in 3(3%),
1(1%).Herpes in 2(2%), 2(2%), HPV in 1(1%), 1(1%). Low grade dyskaryosis
(LD) in 3(3%), 2(2%), high grade dyskaryosis (HD) in 1(1%), 0(0%),
carcinoma in 1(1%), 1(1%) in DS and LBC respectively. The mean time of
smear reading is 4.6 and 2.8 min in DS and LBC respectively. Staining quality
disclosed no significant differences in both preparations.
In conclusion direct conventional smear is superior to LBC in the diagnosis of
infections and intraepithelial lesions and improve specimens adequacy. LBC
is less reliable and should not replace DS methodology, especially in the
cervical screening program in low resource settings like Sudan. Further long
term studies at high risk population with the use of HPV testing and
automation are required to verify these findings.
