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Studies designed to compare liquid-based cytology and conventional Pap tests have yielded disparate results. To investigate this discrepancy, Dutch researchers randomized 246 family practices to conduct cervical screening with liquid-based cytology or conventional Pap testing; 90,000 women participated.
During 18 months of follow-up, histology was performed in 36% of the 2474 women with cytologic abnormalities that were identified in an intent-to-treat analysis. No differences in histologic detection rates for any grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or in positive predictive values were observed between liquid-based cytology and conventional Pap tests. Rates of unsatisfactory preparations were 1% for Pap tests and 0.67% for liq…