Evaluation of liquid‐based cytology in cervical screening of high‐risk populations: a split study of colposcopy and genito‐urinary medicine populations

Abstract

A split study evaluated the ThinPrep(R) PapTesttrade mark (TP; Cytyc Corp., Boxborough, MA) compared with current methodologies of cervical cytology in two high-risk cohorts. One thousand, three hundred cases from a colposcopy clinic and a genito-urinary medicine outpatient clinic were examined. The TP reported increased detection of all grades of dyskaryosis (mild, moderate and severe; + 4.5%) and a decrease in borderline and unsuitable cases (- 4.9%). Four cases of high-grade dyskaryosis (moderate or severe) were detected only using the TP, while an additional four cases classified as high-grade dyskaryosis with the TP were reported as borderline by our conventional methods. The split-study finding of increased sensitivity with the TP provides for improved clinical management of patients in our high-risk cohorts.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral mapping of the cervical transformation zone, and dysplastic squamous epithelium

“…One approach to minimize the error rate in cervical cytology has been to use automated image analysis systems coupled with artificial neural networks (ANNs) to reduce the labor and time necessary to rescreen for false-negatives [16,17]. Another approach has been to improve the quality of slide preparation through the implementation of liquid-based or "thin-prep" methods [18][19][20]. While automated image analysis systems have fallen out of favor, liquid-based cytological methods have gained a stronger presence in cytology laboratories [21].…”

Comparison of conventional Papanicolaou smear and SurePath® liquid‐based cytology in the Copenhagen population screening programme for cervical cancer

“…Gay et al reported a false‐negative rate of 20%, and in concurrence with other investigators, found preparation and sampling errors to account for the greater part 4 . A high number of smears are limited by obscuring blood, inflammation and mucus or show inadequate cellularity 5–7 . Investigators have observed that as much as 80% of cellular material remains in the collecting device and is discarded after conventional smears are prepared 8 .…”

The use of HPV-DNA testing combined with Pap smear in detection of pre-invasive disease of the cervix

“…13,14 In 2002 for the first time the American Cancer Society (ACS) guideline for the early detection of cervical cancer incorporated HPV DNA testing. 15 In the 1980s, HPV was found to be the most important causative agent for cervical cancer, with nearly 100% of cervical cancer cases testing positive for HPV.…”