What is the procedure note for a Papanicolaou (Pap) test?

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Last updated: March 27, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

A Pap procedure note should document a cervical cancer screening examination, including patient identification, indication for the procedure, relevant history, procedure details, and plan for follow-up, as outlined in the current guidelines 1. The procedure note should begin with patient identification, including name, age, and medical record number. The indication for the procedure should be noted, such as routine screening or follow-up of abnormal findings, considering the current guidelines that recommend the first Pap test to be performed at 21 years of age, except in cases of immune suppression or HIV infection 1.

  • Relevant history should include:
    • Last menstrual period
    • Previous abnormal Pap results
    • HPV status
    • Any cervical procedures The procedure itself should be described, noting that a speculum examination was performed, the appearance of the cervix (color, lesions, discharge), and that samples were collected from the ectocervix and endocervical canal using appropriate collection devices.
  • The type of Pap test performed should be specified, such as conventional or liquid-based, and whether HPV testing was ordered, as current guidelines emphasize the importance of HPV testing in cervical cancer screening 1. Additional procedures performed, such as biopsies, should be documented, along with patient tolerance of the procedure and any complications. The plan for follow-up should be based on results and when the patient should return for subsequent screening, taking into account the recommendations for continued screening in cases of previous abnormal Pap results or cervical procedures 1.

From the Research

Procedure Note for Papanicolaou (Pap) Test

There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies focus on pulmonary artery pressure, echocardiography, and right heart catheterization, which are not directly related to the Papanicolaou (Pap) test.

Relevant Information

  • The studies provided discuss various methods for measuring pulmonary artery pressure, including noninvasive techniques such as Doppler echocardiography 2, 3, 4, 5.
  • The studies also discuss the importance of right heart catheterization in diagnosing pulmonary hypertension 2, 4, 6.
  • However, none of the studies mention the Papanicolaou (Pap) test, which is a procedure used to detect cervical cancer and other abnormalities in the cervin area.

Key Points

  • The Papanicolaou (Pap) test is not mentioned in any of the provided studies.
  • The studies focus on pulmonary artery pressure, echocardiography, and right heart catheterization.
  • As a result, there is no relevant information available to construct a procedure note for a Papanicolaou (Pap) test based on the provided studies.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Derivation of mean pulmonary artery pressure from noninvasive parameters.

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography, 2013

Research

[Echocardiography and right heart catheterization in pulmonal hypertension].

Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 2014

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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