Abnormal Pap Smears

Millions of women experience abnormal Pap smears each year, but how many of these patients know what the test screens for, what they can do to ensure optimal results, how laboratory errors can affect their results, what various diagnoses mean, and what to expect in follow-up and treatment procedures? Rushing, medical director of cytology and gynecologic pathology at Pathology Services, Inc., and Joste, a medical doctor and associate professor of pathology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, cover these topics and more. They also consider the link between cervical cancer and human papillomaviruses, new Pap smear technologies, suggestions on how to deal with a cervical cancer diagnosis, cervical cancer prevention, personal stories from women who have experienced abnormal Pap smears, and a Pap smear FAQ. Selected chapter references, a glossary, and a very brief appendix featuring general references, web sites, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers complete the book.