Satisfactory sampling in cytological cervical diagnosis: comparison between a conventional and a new sampling device.

Aim: Inadequate cervical sampling is the most frequent cause of misdiagnosis in cervical cancer screening. The aim of this study was to test the ability of PapCone® versus the conventional sampling method (Ayre's spatula plus cytobrush) to collect ectocervical and glandular cells.

Materials And Methods: In 18 healthy women, two ecto-endocervical samples, obtained by two different methods, were obtained at a three-month interval.

Microcolposcopy in the diagnostic evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology: when and why to do it.

Microcolposcopy is an in vivo cytological examination of the uterine cervix allowing the localization of exoendocervical precancerous lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic reliability of microcolposcopy by means of correlation with histology, colposcopy and Pap test results. For the study, 256 patients with abnormal Pap test results were selected and subjected to colposcopy and microcolposcopy with the aim of evaluating the presence of any intraepithelial lesions.