Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1995 Sep-Oct;45(5):305-20.
doi: 10.3322/canjclin.45.5.305.

The current status of the Papanicolaou smear

Affiliations
Free article
Review

The current status of the Papanicolaou smear

H M Shingleton et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 1995 Sep-Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Since its introduction as a screen for cervical cancer in the late 1940s, the Pap smear has become one of the most widely accepted screening procedures for cancer. Numerous scientific studies have now attested to its effectiveness. However, important issues related to the Pap smear, including cytologic nomenclature, accuracy, regulatory procedures, and screening guidelines, are still being evaluated and debated. This article provides an overview of important issues related to the Pap smear.

PubMed Disclaimer