Abstract
ABSTRACT
Our objective was to determine whether repeat Pap smears obtained at colposcopy with tissue sampling yield useful information. A retrospective study of 314 women who underwent colposcopy with both Pap smear and tissue sampling was performed. The colposcopic Pap smear diagnoses were compared with the concomitant tissue and prior Pap smear diagnoses, and discrepant cases were reviewed. The repeat colposcopic Pap smear yielded a more serious diagnosis than the tissue or prior Pap smear in only 8 cases. All differences were within one Bethesda system category. The clinical management of these patients was not significantly altered by the colposcopic Pap smear diagnosis. These Pap smears represented 7.1% of the total Pap smears and 30% of the abnormal Pap smears examined by the cytology laboratory during the study period. The estimated Medicare reimbursement for evaluating these smears ranges from $6200 to $7800. Repeat colposcopic Pap smears add to the cost of a colposcopic workup but offer only limited clinical benefit. (J GYNECOL SURG 11:85, 1995)
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