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- Abnormal Pap Smears - The Pap smear is a screening test for cancer of the cervix. It was originally developed by Dr. George Papanicolaou in the 1930's to detect cancer of the cervix before it could be seen with the naked eye, in much the same way a mammogram is able to detect breast cancers that are too small to be felt. Since that time, our understanding of how to interpret pap smears has allowed us to detect abnormalities of the cervix before a cancer even develops. Thus, today the pap smear is used not only to detect very early cancer, but more often to prevent a cancer from even developing.
Cancer of the cervix develops when cells on the surface of the cervix begin to divide uncontrollably. This eventually produces a large growth, or tumor, which can be seen with the naked eye. However, cancers rarely develop suddenly. In most cases, it takes several years for a group of normal cells to turn into a cancer. During this time period the normal cells undergo changes in which they become progressively more and more abnormal before finally turning into a cancer. This process is known as dysplasia. A pap smear not only detects cancer, but can detect dysplasia as well. Cells that are only minimally abnormal are said to have mild dysplasia. If left untreated, over time mild dysplasia may become more abnormal and form moderate dysplasia, then eventually severe dysplasia. If severe dysplasia is left untreated, it may go on to form cancer of the cervix.
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Copyright © 1996- by Health Science Report™ for the following:
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