25 september 2008

Tajuk journal ~ Cancer Cytopathology

Nama journal ~ Screening for Endometrial Cancer?

Volume journal ~ Volume 114, Issue 4,2008. Pages: 219-221

Ringkasan journal ~ The success of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear in significantly reducing the mortality from cervical cancer in developed countries is well known. The landscape is littered with devices that have failed to make screening for endometrial cancer feasible. Although on occasion endometrial cells are recognized in cervical cytology samples, it is relatively rare that they represent significant endometrial disease, either atypical complex endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer, in a totally asymptomatic woman. Thus, no comprehensive screening program for endometrial cancer has been mounted to date. In the revised Bethesda terminology after the 1991 Conference, cytologically benign endometrial cells appearing in postmenopausal women were classified as an epithelial cell abnormality. There are an additional 63 lines of explanatory notes that include sample reports and educational notes (optional for the report) regarding the presence of benign endometrial cells. In this issue of Cancer Cytopathology, Kipp et al reported on a feasibility study of direct uterine sampling using the Tao brush sampler and a liquid-based cytology preparation for the detection of endometrial cancer. However, educating women not to ignore abnormal vaginal bleeding and requiring clinicians to track down the source of that bleeding remain paramount.