CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 2, 57-62, Copyright
© 1952 by American Cancer Society
Cytological Techniques in Screening Uterine and Lung Cancer
Emerson Day M.D.1
1 Kate Depew Strang Prevention Clinic, Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York.
In conclusion, I should like to list certain concepts that we have of the role of cytology and its place in our present-day program for cancer control. The value of cytology is firmly established for routine screening for uterine cancer and for diagnostic study of lung-tumor suspects. In these two applications, cytological techniques should be adopted as widely as possible in general and specialty clinics and in office practice.
The effective use of cytology depends on the following principles:
1. A smear does not take the place of a biopsy. In practice, any suspicious area should be biopsied whether or not a smear is taken.
2. The smear can give information in regard to tissues and surfaces not practically available for biopsy. When biopsy material is unobtainable, persistently positive smears reported by reliable cytologist are presumptive evidence of carcinoma. Proper action at that point must be determined for the individual case and the site implicated.
3. The false-negative smear and the false-positive smear are calculated limitations of cytology that will be reduced as we gain experience and that can be minimized by expert cytological reading and proper clinical translation of reports.
Finally, the maximum early cancer detection and prompt, proper treatment—the basis of today's cancer control—can be achieved if we have full co-operation of cytologists, pathologists, and clinicians.
