TITLE:
Diagnostic value of the combination of TruScreen and Pap smear in screening cervical epithelial lesions: Does it add advantages over the Pap smear alone?
AUTHORS:
Tajossadat Allameh, Somayeh Khanjani, Fereshteh Mohammadizadeh, Elaheh Refaei
KEYWORDS:
TruScreen; Pap Smear; Colposcopy; Biopsy; Cervical Epithelial Lesions
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.3 No.3,
May
8,
2013
ABSTRACT: Introduction:
Pap smear is a well known test in screening of epithelial cell abnormalities of
the cervix. However, adding other screening methods to this test may increase
the sensitivity and specificity of case finding. Current study has been
designed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the combination of Tru-Screen
and Pap tests in comparison to Pap smear alone in women referred for annual
screening. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in two groups of 66
and 73 women with epithelial cell abnormality and normal results on Pap
smear, respectively. Both groups were subsequently tested with Tru-Screen and
colposcopy. Positive finding in any of the three studies made the patient
candidate for biopsy as the standard diagnostic test. SPSS software was used
to analyze sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative
predictive value of TruScreen, Pap smear, colposcopy and the combination of
TruScreen and Pap tests. Results: 105 out of 139 women underwent biopsy. Of
these, 32 (30.5%) had abnormal result in biopsy. Combination of True screen and
Pap smear led to a sensitivity of 93.8% and specificity of 79.5% which means an
improvement in both parameters. False negative rate decreased to 6.3% but
false positive rate increased to 82.2%. Positive and negative predictive values
of the combined tests were 33.3% and 86.7%, respectively. Conclusion:
Combination of TruScreen and Pap smear is associated with a significant improvement
in both sensitivity and specificity for early screening of preneoplastic and
neoplastic cervical epithelial lesions.