Should adequacy criteria in cervicovaginal cytology be modified after radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or hysterectomy?

Background: The general criterion of an unsatisfactory Papanicolaou (Pap) test in the 2001 version of the Bethesda system is not applicable to patients after treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or hysterectomy. The current study was performed to determine whether specimen adequacy criteria for Pap tests should be modified for these conditions.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent conventional Pap tests between March and August 2006 were reviewed.

Clinical parameters associated with unsatisfactory specimens of conventional cervical smears.

Although The Bethesda System 2001 attempted to standardize the criteria for specimen adequacy, much confusion still exists, which includes the significance of unsatisfactory smears, the causes and clinical conditions related to unsatisfactory smears, and the appropriate management of unsatisfactory smears. The aim of this study is to find out the clinical factors associated with unsatisfactory cervical smears. We reviewed the medical charts of patients who received conventional Pap smears between March 2006 and August 2006 in a tertiary care center.

Liquid-based cytology in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has achieved great success in cytological diagnosis of various cancers when compared with conventional smear methods. However, its application in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has never been studied.

Methods: Eighty-four consecutive patients who underwent nasopharyngeal biopsy for suspicious NPC or a nasopharyngeal mass under nasopharyngoscopy were enrolled in this prospective study.