Use of the Cytobrush in Postmenopausal Women

Patients who were postmenopausal were identified, and the results of a standard Papanicolaou smear using a cotton-tipped applicator were compared with those using a cytobrush. One hundred one postmenopausal women were evaluated between August 1, 1987, and April 9, 1990. The standard Papanicolaou smear with a moistened cotton-tipped applicator yielded endocervical cells in 59 (58%) of the 101 patients, whereas the cytobrush yielded endocervical cells in 90% of the patients. The use of the cytobrush for cervical cytologic screening appears to be of value in postmenopausal women.