Should liquid-based cytology be repeated at the time of colposcopy?

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of repeated liquid cytology at the time of colposcopy.

Materials And Methods: We screened 5,100 women with liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing. Women with any abnormal cytology result including atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or a positive high-risk HPV DNA test result were referred for colposcopy. One thousand three hundred thirty-three women returned for colposcopy with repeated cytology and cervical biopsy.

Results: Twenty-one women had less than high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) screening cytology and cervical biopsy results; however, their repeated cytology at the colposcopy visit revealed HSIL, and excisional treatment was recommended. Repeated cytology at colposcopy significantly changed the clinical management for 1.6% (21) of 1,333 women.

Conclusions: As an adjunct test to colposcopy, liquid cytology was similar to conventional cytology. Given current practice patterns, repeated liquid cytology at the time of colposcopy is rarely clinically useful.