The Pap Smear Test 1928 – Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

Until the invention of the Pap smear test in 1928, cervical cancer was the cancer responsible for the most deaths among women in the United States. When the test finally came into widespread use in the 1950s, mortality rates fell dramatically. The Pap smear test was hailed as the most successful and widely used cancer screening method in history. 

In the 1800s, cancer of the cervix (the lower, narrow part where the uterus joins the vagina) was thought to be a sexually transmitted disease. In the 1980s, human papillomavirus (HPV) was identified in cervical cancer tissue and has since been linked to nearly all of these cancers.

Named after Greek pathologist Georgios Papanikolaou, the Pap test allows doctors to collect samples from the cervix to detect cancerous cells. 

• Samples can be collected from the external opening of the cervix with a spatula, and from the cervical canal with a brush. 
• The cells are then stained and examined under a microscope. 
• If suspicious cells are found, colposcopy by a specialist (direct examination of the vulva, vagina, and cervix in the female reproductive system using a special instrument) may be performed.
• A biopsy may be taken for a more detailed examination.

Today, women can be vaccinated against HPV, but vaccination does not protect against every form of HPV or HPV acquired before vaccination. Only a very small percentage of women infected with HPV develop cancer. Very advanced cervical cancer may require treatment with removal of the uterus, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Historical Figures Mentioned in This Article: Georgios Nicholas Papanikolaou (1883–1962)

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