Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Invasive cervical malignancy is preceded by premalignant cervical epithelial lesions of different grades which are termed as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia . Cancer of the cervix can be prevented by intercepting it at the preinvasive stage.
Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of abnormal cervical smears in Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk governorate.
Subject & method : A prospective study was carried out from March 2007 to March 2011 in Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk governorate . The abnormal Pap smears were assessed according to the Bethesda system.
Results: A total of 1175 Pap smears were collected from patients aging 19 to 74 years old. 552 (46.94%) smears were ‘negative’, 30(2.55%) smears were labeled as' inadequate’, and 578 (49.25%) had ‘Benign cellular changes’ and there were 15(1.28%) abnormal Pap smears consisting of 10 (67%) squamous intraepithelial lesion with undetermined significance , 2(13.3%) Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion , 1(6.7%) high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion , 1(6.7%) carcinoma and 1(6.7%) atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance .
Overall incidence of the cervical cancer among these samples was 0.08% (1 out of 1175).