Experience in Sheffield: follow-up of abnormal cervical cytology.

Failure to re-attend for follow-up is a significant problem in patients attending genitourinary clinics. In this study, despite the efforts made to trac patients with cervical cytological abnormalities, adequate follow-up or further investigation was achieved in only 15.3% of women with inflammatory changes on initial cytology, 38.5% with herpes simplex virus changes, 34.5% with human papillomavirus changes, 60.8% with mild dyskaryosis, 79.9% with moderate dyskaryosis and 97% with severe dyskaryosis. Until the natural history of the minimal atypias is more fully understood, it may be that more vigorous surveillance in such women should be considered.