Abnormal Pap After Cone Biopsy  Last Modified: March 1, 2009
Share article   Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"  I was
diagnosed with CIN-3 after a cold cone knife biopsy for an
abnormal Pap smear. I have heard that Pap smears after cone
biopsy can be inaccurate and asked my physician to also test for
HPV. Does this sound like a good idea?    I usually recommend
having a Pap 6 months after the cone biopsy. As long as the Pap
is "adequate", meaning it captured both squamous and glandular
cells on the specimen, then it is as accurate as any Pap.  As
for HPV testing, anyone who has cervical intraepithelial
neoplasia (CIN1 or higher) already has a 95% or more chance of
having a positive test for high-risk strains of HPV, so I don't
find it useful in this situation. I usually only check HPV in
patients with ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined
significance) on Pap.  Blogs and Web Chats   I Wish You Knew
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