[Studies on a cell sampling method in mass screening for uterine cervical cancer--comparison of data obtained with a cotton tipped applicator, wooden spatula and cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy].

In mass screening tests for uterine cancer carried out Shimane Prefecture, we used three different scraping methods. This summary is a report of a comparison of the findings with each method. Results are as follows: From 1973-1982, 214, 798 Japanese women were examined in mass screening tests. Among the 42, 443 examined using a cotton tipped applicator, there were 15 (0.035%) with mild dysplasia, 8 (0.019%) with severe dysplasia, 6 (0.014%) with carcinoma in situ and 8 (0.019%) with invasive carcinoma. In 38,106 women examined using the spatula, 25 (0.066%) had a mild dysplasia, 10 (0.026%) a severe dysplasia, 18 (0.047%) a carcinoma in situ and 26 (0.068%) an invasive carcinoma. In 134,249 examined using a cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy, 283 (0.211%) had a mild dysplasia 108 (0.080%) a severe dysplasia, 57 (0.042%) a carcinoma in situ and 78 (0.058%) an invasive carcinoma. Thus, the use of a cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy leads to higher rates of detection of mild and severe dysplasia. In the group with a negative Papanicolaou smear and for whom the cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy was used, there were 214 with a mild dysplasia, 65 with a severe dysplasia, 11 with a carcinoma in situ and 7 with an invasive carcinoma. The combination of cotton tipped applicator and colposcopy proved to be the most effective for mass screenings for uterine cancer, as the detection rates for severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ were higher and there were fewer incidences of false negative results.