Analysis of abnormal epithelial lesions in cervical Pap smears in Mid-Western Nepal

Background: Like in other developing countries, cancer of cervix is one of the most common malignancies in women in Nepal. Most women never undergo a cervical Pap smear screening. The objective of this<br>study is to determine the prevalence of abnormal cervical epithelial lesions.<br>Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 880 conventional cervical Pap smears reported from the Department of Pathology, Chitwan Medical College in Chitwan, Nepal. The time period was from June 2009 to November 2010.<br>Results: In this study, High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion was the most common with 6 cases (40%), followed by Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion with 3 cases (20%), then Atypical Squamous Epithelial Cells of Undetermined Significance, and atypical Glandular Cells and Squamous cell carcinoma with 2 cases each (13.3%). Eighty per cent of all the abnormal epithelial lesions were found in women above the age of 40 years.<br>Conclusion: At least one Pap screening test of the cervix of all women between the ages of 40-50 years is recommended.