Results of prior cytologic screening in patients with a diagnosis of Stage I carcinoma of the cervix.

Cervical carcinoma is a disease which lends itself to prevention and diagnosis by cytologic screening. The results of previous Papanicolaou smears were obtained in 84 patients. Of 197 Papanicolaou smear results obtained prior to diagnosis of Stage I carcinoma, 63 (31%) were positive; and of 51 such smears obtained 1 year prior to diagnosis, 30 (59%) were positive. Possible explanations for negative screening prior to development of carcinoma are given. The need for centralized cytologic screening programs on a provincial basis is stressed.