Cytologic-histologic correlation

Abstract

The process of cytologic‐histologic correlation is highly valuable to the fields of both cytopathology and surgical pathology, because correlation provides a wealth of data that may be used to improve diagnostic testing and screening processes. In this study, overall improvement appeared to be driven largely by improvement in preanalytic Papanicolaou (Pap) test sampling, because longer institutional participation also was associated with improved sampling sensitivity. The authors hypothesized that Pap test sampling may have improved secondary to the introduction of liquid‐based technology, which was implemented in many laboratories during the study time frame. Through the performance of continuous data tracking and retrospective root cause analysis to identify factors that may have influenced any observed changes in performance indicators, institutions may learn which initiatives are successful or unsuccessful. The future of correlation lies in the standardization of methods, the development of more formal and rigorous root cause analysis processes to determine system components underlying correlation discrepancies, and the active use of correlation data to redesign testing and screening processes for quality and patient safety improvement. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.

Cytohistological correlation and discrepancy of conventional Papanicolaou smear test with corresponding histopathology: a retrospective study over a 5-year period

“…These 2 systems do not correlate exactly. Even with the 2001 Bethesda system, variations are present in both systems (12).…”

“…In fact, it is considered to be a method to detect medical error in the histopathology laboratory (12). This correlation evaluates the accuracy of cytological examination when false negative and false positive findings are present.…”

Correlation of clinical, cytological and histological findings in oral squamous cell carcinomas

“…Raab and Grzybicki (17) proposed that correlation analyses are highly valuable in the fields of cytopathology and surgical pathology, as correlation analysis generates much data that may be used to improve diagnostic testing and screening processes. However, it is necessary to develop standardized methods for correlation analyses and to use correlation data to redesign testing and screening processes to enhance the quality of such processes, as well as patient safety (17).…”

Does histopathological examination still have value in detecting and preventing cancer?

“…However, visual examination of tissue can also give a false result as noted with the diagnosis of breast cancer in which the false negative was found to be about 5% to 8% of cases 5 and in about 4.5% of patients with a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test 11 . The false results found in the pathology report may be related to various reasons, including the efficiency (accuracy) of the examiner when the cancer is difficult to diagnose as with squamous lesions in the uterine cervix 12 and the degree of precision with which depending on the examination is reproducible 13 . However, delay in diagnosis by a pathologist is attended by many problems that relate to either a pre-laboratory step as with taking an adequate sample, labeling, and arrival in the laboratory; in the laboratory so as to delay completion of the report that may lead to delay in the treatment; post-laboratory step such as the failure to receive the results 1,14 .…”

“…However, the character of the whole structure of the specimen, followed by the visual examined is the principal step used by pathologists in the diagnosis of the abnormal tissue 1 . In addition, the cytological examination has also played an important role in the diagnosis of cancer 4 , and its results could be helpful for confirming of the histological examination 13,22 . Although the cytological analysis has many disadvantages [23][24] , it also has several benefits compared with the pathological analysis, including cost-effectiveness, rapid turnaround time, providing a minimal risk for the patient, and giving the results when other techniques failed 1,4 .…”