IOSR Journal of VLSI and Signal Processing (IOSR-JVSP) Volume 2, Issue 6 (Jul. – Aug. 2013), PP 37-41 e-ISSN: 2319 – 4200, p-ISSN No. : 2319 – 4197 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 37 | Page Pattern of Cervical Smear Cytology in Calabar, Nigeria, Odusolu P.O 1 , Omotoso A.J 1,2 , Nnoli M 2 , Agan T.U 1 , Bassey I.E 2 , Ekanem I.A 2 , Ekanem A.D 1 . 1 Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University Calabar Teaching Hospital. 2 Department of Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Abstract: Background: Cancer of the cervix is the most common cancer of the female genital tract and accounts for about two hundred and fifty thousand deaths yearly. Most of these occur in the developing countries mainly Africa, because of poverty, lack of awareness, and absence of organised population based screening programmes which has greatly reduced the incidence in the developed world. Objective: The study is aimed at determining the pattern of cervical cytology of smears received in the Department of Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. Method: A retrospective study of all cervical smears received and processed at the Department of Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar between January 2001 and December 2010.Those with inadequate data were excluded from the study. Classification was by the Bethesda system and analysis was by simple statistical methods. Results: During the study period, 98.3% of the 848 cervical smears received were satisfactory for analysis. Six hundred and ninety eight (83.7%) were negative smears while (16.3% )were abnormal, 2.6% of the abnormal samples were frankly malignant (invasive cancer), while 6.5% and 5.4% were high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL) respectively. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for increase awareness for cervical cancer and population screening programmes should be encouraged to reduce the prevalence of cancer of the cervix in our population. I. Introduction Globally, cancer of the breast is the commonest cancer followed by that of the cervix [1, 2], but cancer of the cervix is the commonest in developing countries and the commonest genital tract malignancy. [3, 4, 5,] About half a million new cases are seen worldwide each year with over 80% of the morbidities and mortalities occurring in developing countries [6]. This is further compounded by the fact that 75% of patients in developing countries present with advanced stage disease, when only palliative treatment is possible. [7, 8]. Cervical (pap) smear is a relatively simple cost-effective screening test done by scraping the exfoliative epithelium of the squamo – columnar junction of the cervix. This is examined cytologically to detect abnormalities that might lead to cervical cancer [9, 10, and 11].The prevention of cervical cancer rely on routine population screening for early detection and appropriate management of precursor lesions which if untreated may advance to invasive disease or may regress spontaneously [12,13]. Where such programs are effective there has been remarkable reduction in both morbidity and mortality from invasive cancer of the cervix [14]. No form of cancer better documents the remarkable effects of prevention, early diagnosis, and curative therapy on the mortality rate than cancer of the cervix. [2] In spite of its success and simplicity organized routine screening remains elusive in most developing countries where it is estimated that only about 5% of women have been screened for the disease with Pap smear. [12]. Most developing countries, including Nigeria, do not have organized cervical cancer screening services, despite the huge burden of cervical cancer and presence of its predisposing factors. Opportunistic screening offers the only hope of preventing cervical cancer in such settings but has severe limitations in its uptake, scope of coverage, follow-up and evaluations of its impact on reduction of clinical cervical cancer. Also, opportunistic screening is characterized by over-screening of those at low risk [15]. A survey of gynaecologists in Nigeria on cervical cancer shows that there is a low level of screening of their patients, despite the availability of screening services in many centres [16]. The low numbers has been attributed to poor preventative health consciousness, the fear of a positive result and concerns about cost [17]. II. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all (cervical) Pap smears received and processed at the Department of Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital over a ten year period (January 2001 and December 2010). Specimen adequacy was properly assessed based on presence of endocervical cells and/or metaplastic