NCIt definition : A biospecimen collection and staining procedure in which secretions and superficial
cells of the cervix are collected and stained with the Papanicolaou stain followed
by microscopic examination to identify the presence of abnormal cells.;
Alternative definition : NCI-GLOSS: A procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix for examination
under a microscope. It is used to detect cancer and changes that may lead to cancer.
A Pap smear can also show conditions, such as infection or inflammation, that are
not cancer.;
Codes from synonyms : CDR0000045978; CDR0000045086;