["Papanicolaou." Outmoded, isn't it?].

The quality of cytopathology services in the United States has recently come under public scrutiny. While numerous studies have demonstrated remarkable success of the PAPANICOLAOU test in the reduction of cervical cancer, problems that include inadequacies in obtaining the sample, processing the sample screening and interpretation based on the PAPANICOLAOU Classification have been questioned. The recommendations of expert consultants attending a workshop sponsored by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Institutes regarding utilization of the Pap Smear have been made and published as the Bethesda System.

[Is fibrocystic disease precancerous?].

The relationship between fibrocystic disease and the risk of developing breast cancer has been established based on proliferative changes seen in breast biopsies and the follow-up of patients. 70% of the female patients present a non-proliferative fibrocystic process without any risk of further development of cancer as compared with the rest of the population. 30% of patients with fibrocystic disease present a proliferative process with or without atypia.