Acceptance of digital cervicography complementary to Papanicolaou cytology : a descriptive-exploratory study

Abstract

Aim: Analyze the acceptability of digital cervicography as a complementary method to Papanicolaou cytology for diagnosing cervical cancer. Method: An exploratory-descriptive study, quantitative approach. The survey had 63 participants and data was collected between June and August 2012. For data evaluation we used the results of cytologic collection and digital cervicography. Result: 100% of acceptance verified within participants. Regarding the Papanicolaou cytology, 96.8% of glandular, 8% of metaplastic, and 100% of squamous epithelium were found. Inflammation was found in 58.6% of the sample and malignant cell alterations in 1.6%. Discussion: The low sensitivity level of Papanicolaou cytology and the good acceptability rates of digital cervicography suggest the complementarity of these for cancer diagnosis. Conclusion: The implementation of digital cervicography as an exam complementary to Papanicolaou cytology is of great importance in order to increase the sensitivity level at cervical cancer detection.