Info
Pap test (Papanicolaou test)
Diagnosis
What it means
A screening test that collects cells from the cervix to detect precancerous changes or abnormal cells, before they become cancer. It is recommended periodically for women who are sexually active or over 21.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Cervical cancer
- Cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix, caused almost always by persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV. It is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through vaccination and detected early through the Pap test.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)
- A tumor marker useful especially for liver cancer and certain testicular or ovarian tumors. It is measured in the blood for diagnosis, monitoring treatment and detecting a recurrence.
- ALK-positive
- A gene rearrangement found in a subset of lung cancers, more common in non-smoking or younger patients. ALK-positive tumors often respond very well to specific targeted therapies, different from standard chemotherapy.
Other terms in “Diagnosis”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.