Abnormal Pap test results not followed up

In the first Canadian study of its kind, researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre have found that at least 26 per cent of Canadian women who have abnormal Pap test results are not receiving proper follow-up care.

Published in Gynecologic Oncology, the study included 43,792 women who had a first-time, abnormal Pap smear. The women were followed for a period of up to two-years to determine medical or surgical management of their abnormal test results. Findings show patients with abnormal Pap smear results waited 13 to 24 weeks for referral for a more thorough test to determine whether or not cancer was present. Researchers found the average time to diagnosis of an underlying cervical cancer was 3 to 26 weeks. Unfortunately, 26 per cent of patients had no follow-up referral within two years of an abnormal Pap smear.

"What is clear is that we need to develop an effective pathway for follow-up care for patients who have abnormal Pap test results," said Dr. Rachel Kupets, lead clinical investigator, assistant professor of surgery, University of Toronto, and surgical oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre, gynaecology cancer care team. "The goal of screening is not only to catch serious pre-cancerous changes on the cervix, it is also meant to detect cervical cancers in early stages to ensure patients have the best results possible from their treatment."