Cervical Cancer: Correlation between Diagnosis and Previous Screening Test in a Reference Center in Northern Minas Gerais

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer, the third most common female malignancy in world, is responsible for a considerable number of deaths and represents a major concern of public health agencies, who recommend its screening through regular Pap smears. Objective: To know the profile of patients with malignant cervical neoplasm as to previous screening and to identify causes for not undergoing it. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in a reference center in northern Minas Gerais through interviews and reviews of medical records of patients with cervical cancer treated at a referral hospital between August 2008 and July 2009. Results: 71 patients were interviewed, with an average age of 52.5 years with minimum 29 and maximum 76 years of age (standard deviation of 13.75) and most of them (69%) lived in urban areas. As to the histological type, 97.1% of the patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 64.7% had at least stage IIb or above. Most of the interviewees (56.3%) reported never having undergone the test. Among the reasons for not doing it, 17 women (42%) reported not knowing whether it is important, 9 (23%) considered it not necessary because they were asymptomatic, 8 patients (20%) were ashamed of the procedure and 6 (15%) had difficulty of access. Conclusion: The lack of information about the importance of screening, among other things, proved to be a highly relevant factor for not undergoing the examination.