AbstractBackground: Micronucleus test is an excellent biomarker for predicting the cancer risk and can be successfully used to screen the population groups who are at risk for cervical cancer. It can be used to detect cervical cancer is preclinical asymptomatic phase. Aim: The aim of our study is to compare the micronucleus score in the spectrum of cervical lesions and to evaluate the role of micronucleus in assessing the risk of cervical cancer. Materials and methods: It is a retrospective study done in the Department of Pathology, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India for a period of 6 months from April 2018 to September 2018. Total number
of 67 conventional Pap smear cases were studied. MN score was expressed as the number of micro nucleated cells present per 1000 epithelial cells. Results: In all the categories, single micronucleus is more common when compared to multiple micronuclei (P=<0.001). Multiple micronuclei were more common in HSIL and invasive carcinoma when compared to other categories. There is gradual increase in micronucleus score from normal category to invasive carcinoma. The difference in mean micronucleus score in HSIL and invasive carcinoma when compared to other categories is statistically significant (p=<0.0001). Conclusion: Micronucleus scoring is an easy, simple, reliable and reproducible objective test which can be done on routine conventional Pap smear. Individuals who have risk factors for cervical cancer must be screened for this simple micronucleus count along with their cervical smear examination.
Keywords: Biomarker; Cervical Cancer; Micronucleus; Pap Smear.