The value of a transformation zone component in anal cytology to detect HSIL.

Background: In a cytology-based screening program intended to prevent anal cancer, the anal transformation zone (TZ) should be adequately sampled because it is the site most susceptible to the development of the cancer precursor, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). An adequate TZ component is defined as comprising at least 10 rectal columnar or squamous metaplastic cells. In the current study, the authors examined whether the presence of a TZ component in anal cytology correlated with the detection of histological HSIL.

High reproducibility of histological diagnosis of human papillomavirus-related intraepithelial lesions of the anal canal.

In a natural history study of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-related lesions, we examined the reproducibility of histological high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Three expert anogenital pathologists share the reporting of histological specimens from the Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC), utilising Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology (LAST) criteria. In total, 194 previously reported biopsies were randomly chosen within diagnostic strata [50 HSIL-anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) 3; 45 HSIL-AIN 2; 49 'flat' low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL); 50 'exophytic' LSIL; and 50 negative for squamous intraepithelial lesion] and reviewed by each of these three pathologists.

Does providing previous results change the accuracy of cervical cytology?

Objective: To determine whether providing previous cytology and histology findings alters the accuracy of conventional cervical cytology reading or changes reading times.

Study Design: Each of 9 cytologists read 9 batches of 8 routinely referred Pap smears (total, 648 slides), with history (H) and without history (NH), at an interval of no less than 4 weeks. Each batch was read blind to the result of reading under the other strategy and to histology.

A three-armed trial of the ThinPrep Imaging System.

We compared the performance of the ThinPrep (TP) Imaging System (TIS) with manual reading of TP slides (TPM) and with manual reading of the paired conventional Pap smear (PS) in terms of sensitivity for and positive predictive value (PPV) of high-grade disease and productivity. The study consisted of 11,416 routine PS and paired TP slides as well as 103 confirmed abnormal TP slides. In terms of sensitivity for the detection of biopsy-confirmed high-grade disease, overall there was no statistically significant difference between TIS-screened TP (TPI) and TPM (81.

Follow-up of cytologic predictions of endocervical glandular abnormalities: histologic outcomes in 123 cases.

Objectives: To determine histologic positive predictive values (PPVs) for three categories of cytologic reports of endocervical glandular abnormalities.

Materials And Methods: We obtained histologic follow-up for 100% of 67 cytologic predictions of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and 82% of 39 predictions of possible AIS (?AIS) made over a 4-year period (1999-2002) and for 25% of 105 atypical endocervical cells (AEC) predictions over a 12-month period (2000). For each category of cytologic report, we determined the histologic yields of high-grade lesions overall and of high-grade glandular lesions.