Is there any benefit to Papanicolaou (Pap) test screening in women who have had a hysterectomy for benign disease?

Abstract

The primary motivation to screen asymptomatic women after a hysterectomy is to prevent morbidity and mortality from gynecologic cancer. However, primary vaginal cancer is rare, the vaginal Pap test is not particularly accurate, and the natural history of precancerous vaginal lesions is uncertain. Based on these facts there is no compelling reason to screen women after hysterectomy for benign disease with routine Pap tests. (Grade of Recommendation: B, based on moderate quality cohort studies.)