Papanicolaou and Traut: vaginal-smear diagnosis of uterine carcinoma

What changed

Exfoliated-cell microscopy became a practical route to detecting uterine carcinoma.

Scientific scope

Exact two-author 1941 paper, contextualized by their 1943 report; not present-day screening accuracy or population programmes.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact 1941 two-author paper, supported by a related 1943 full-text report. It does not claim perfect sensitivity, present-day screening intervals or sole credit for later population programmes.

Contributors

• George N. Papanicolaou · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Herbert F. Traut · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• Papanicolaou and Traut, The Diagnostic Value of Vaginal Smears in Carcinoma of the Uterus
• Traut and Papanicolaou, Cancer of the Uterus: The Vaginal Smear in Its Diagnosis

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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