The purpose of the study was to compare the conventional Pap smear with liquid-based cytology in the early diagnosis of cervical diseases. Materials and methods. The study included 150 women between the ages of 18 and 73 with cervical diseases. The comparison was held on the basis of the results of histology of liquid-based and conventional Pap smears taken from cervix. Bethesda classification was used to make the diagnosis. Diagnostic performance was calculated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Results and discussion. During the sensitivity, specificity and prognostic assessment of liquid-based cytology with conventional Pap smears, the sensitivity of liquid-based cytology was higher than the conventional Pap test – 93.1%, and the conventional Pap test was 81.3%. The specificity of liquid-based cytology can be compared with a conventional Pap test (76.2% and 70.6%, respectively). The positive prognostic value was 84.4% in liquid-based cytology and 88.6% in the conventional Pap test. Negative prognostic value was significantly higher in liquid-based cytology than in conventional Pap tests (88.9% and 57.1%, respectively). The total diagnostic value was 86.0% in liquid-based cytology and 78.5% in the conventional Pap test. As a result of the study it has become clear that liquid-based cytology is an appropriate method for the diagnosis of cervical diseases. There are screening programs for cervical, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer in the country, but due to some psycho-social factors, restrictions and barriers, patients only seek medical attention when there is an urgent need. As a result, more than half of all cancers are diagnosed at a late stage. Thus, the study concluded that liquid-based cytology is more convenient than conventional smear screening for cervical cancer screening. As single-layer smears are easier to examine, cells with atypia are not covered by other cells (inflammation, blood, etc.). In addition, the amount of unsatisfactory smears is minimal. In general, many studies have been conducted comparing liquid-based cytology with conventional Pap smears. The results were different in both the initial studies and the meta-analysis. Conclusion. Thus, both screening methods predict the likelihood of disease in the same way, but with liquid-based cytology, the number of false-negative results is less, and the sample quality is improved by reducing the number of unsatisfactory smears. Also, women with liquid-based cytology are more likely to get a positive result than those with cervical disease. Liquid-based cytology is superior and more sensitive than conventional Pap tests in the detection of cervical neoplasms

Keywords: cervical cancer screening, conventional Pap, liquid-based cytology, sensitivity, specificity, predictive value

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