DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2026.v14i03.054

Pages: 543-548

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the world. Effective prevention strategies, such as screening by cervicovaginal smear, can prevent most cervical cancers. The objective of this study was to describe the cytological characteristics of cervicovaginal smears in patients who underwent screening over a period of thirteen (13) years (January 2004 to December 2016) and to describe the results obtained. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical cross-sectional study over a period of 13 years at the Histology-Embryology and Cytogenetics laboratory of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar (UCAD). All women who underwent a cervicovaginal smear for cervical cancer screening were included; we also collected several epidemiological parameters. Results: 13,919 cervicovaginal smears (CVS) were recorded. The majority of women were referred by family planning centers (31.70%); screening was the most frequent reason for referral (73.67%); the mean age of patients was 39.69 years with a predominance of the 35-50 age group (44.88%). 88.66% of women had at least one child, with a median of 3 children per woman and a maximum of 15 children. 32.81% of women were using contraceptive methods. Regarding the CVS, 76.71% of smears were dystrophic, of which 71.93% were associated with infection. 2.67% of patients had low-grade lesions and 1.79% had high-grade lesions; carcinoma was suspected in 0.49% of cases. Conclusion: This 13-year study recorded 13,919 CVS, with dystrophic smears being predominant.