Pap smear

(noun)

The Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system.

Related Terms

Examples of Pap smear in the following topics:

  • Papanicolaou Test

    • The Pap smear is a test used to determine the health of the cervical canal and is an important test in cancer prevention.
    • The BabeČ™Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system.
    • More frequent Pap smears may be needed to follow-up after an abnormal Pap smear, or after treatment for abnormal Pap or biopsy results, or after treatment for cancer.
    • A regular program of pap smear screening, with appropriate follow-up, can reduce cervical cancer incidence by up to 80%.
    • In the U.S., over half of all invasive cancers occur in women that have never had a Pap smear; an additional 10 to 20% of cancers occur in women that have not had a Pap smear in the preceding five years.

  • Cervical Cancer

    • Cancer screening using the Pap smear can identify precancerous and potentially precancerous changes in cervical cells and tissue.
    • While the pap smear is an effective screening test, confirmation of the diagnosis of cervical cancer or pre-cancer requires a biopsy of the cervix.
    • Since the vaccines only cover some of the cancer causing ("high-risk") types of HPV, women should seek regular Pap smear screening, even after vaccination.

  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

    • In more developed countries, cervical screening using a Papanicolaou (Pap) test or liquid-based cytology is used to detect abnormal cells that may develop into cancer.
    • Pap smears have reduced the incidence and fatalities of cervical cancer in the developed world, but even so there were 11,000 cases and 3,900 deaths in the U.S. in 2008.

  • Hysterectomy

    • For this reason, regular Pap smears to check for cervical dysplasia or cancer are still needed.

  • Chlamydia

  • Paying for Medical Care

    • For example, while a public-funded system (see below) might decide to pay for a pap smear only once every five years if the patient was not positive for the human papilloma virus based on cost efficiency, in a private system a consumer can choose to be screened more often and enjoy the luxury of greater peace of mind and marginally reduced risk.

  • African American Migration

    • One of the most important figures of the Exodus was Benjamin "Pap" Singleton.

  • Jackson Pollock and Action Painting

    • Action painting, created by Jackson Pollock, is a style in which paint is spontaneously splattered, smeared or dripped onto the canvas.
    • Action painting is a style of painting in which paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather than being carefully applied with a brush.

  • The TORCH Panel of Tests

    • Micrograph of a pap test showing changes (upper-right of image) associated with Herpes Simplex Virus, a TORCH infection.