Role of Ancillary Techniques in Cervical Biopsy and Endocervical Curettage Specimens as Follow-Up to Papanicolaou Test Results Indicating a Diagnosis of Atypical Squamous Cells, Cannot Exclude High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, or High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 155-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor M. Jenkins ◽  
Hadi Shojaei ◽  
Sharon J. Song ◽  
Lauren E. Schwartz

The Papanicolaou (PAP) test is widely used to screen for cervical cancer. All high-grade lesions such as atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, identified on a PAP test should be followed-up by a confirmatory cervical biopsy. In this review, we discuss the challenges in interpreting cervical tissue specimens and the various ancillary techniques used in the evaluation of cervical dysplasia. Ancillary studies include deeper levels, p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC), human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and, importantly, cyto-histologic correlation. Of these, p16 IHC is consistently sensitive and specific for detecting HSIL. HPV RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) is a newer technique with excellent sensitivity and specificity for detecting virally infected cells and it may be more broadly applicable to both low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (7) ◽  
pp. 746-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Renshaw ◽  
Michael A. Schulte ◽  
Elizabeth Plott ◽  
Barbara Dubray-Benstein ◽  
Camilla J. Cobb ◽  
...  

Abstract Context.—Conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) test slides of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) that are frequently misdiagnosed are known to have relatively few dysplastic cells. Whether this is true of cases of HSIL in ThinPrep Pap Test specimens is not known. Objective.—To determine if cases of HSIL in ThinPrep specimens that are frequently missed have relatively few dysplastic cells. Design.—The cytologic features of 16 ThinPrep cases of HSIL that performed poorly in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program were compared with 22 ThinPrep Pap Test cases that performed extremely well. Results.—Significantly more cases that performed poorly had fewer than 250 dysplastic cells (13/16) than cases that performed well (3/22) (P < .001). Conclusion.—ThinPrep Pap Test cases with a diagnosis of HSIL that performed poorly in this program had significantly fewer dysplastic cells than those that performed well.


2005 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Renshaw ◽  
Barbara Dubray-Benstein ◽  
Jennifer Haja ◽  
Jonathan H. Hughes

Abstract Context.—Both conventional and ThinPrep Papanicolaou smears with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions that are frequently missed are known to have relatively few abnormal cells. Whether this is also true of cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion is not known. Objective.—To compare the cytologic features of cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion that perform poorly with the features of cases that perform well. Design.—The cytologic features of 10 ThinPrep Pap Test and conventional smear cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion that performed poorly in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program were compared with 46 ThinPrep Pap Test and conventional smear cases that performed extremely well. The numbers of abnormal cells were categorized into less than 50, 51 to 100, 101 to 250, 251 to 500, and more than 500. Results.—The median number of abnormal cells for cases that performed poorly was less than 50, whereas the median number of abnormal cells for cases that performed well was between 101 and 250. Overall, cases that performed poorly were significantly more likely to have less than 50, less than 100, and less than 250 abnormal cells than cases that performed well (P < .001, P < .001, and P = .009, respectively). A minority of cases performed well even with very few abnormal cells and groups. The same findings were present when conventional smears and ThinPrep specimens were analyzed separately. Conclusions.—ThinPrep Pap Test cases and conventional smears with a diagnosis of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion that perform poorly in this program have significantly fewer abnormal cells than those that perform well. The median number of abnormal cells in cases that performed well is lower than that of comparable high-grade cases in the program.


2018 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth G. Morency ◽  
Tracey Harbert ◽  
Nazneen Fatima ◽  
Julia Samolcyzk ◽  
Kruti P. Maniar ◽  
...  

Context.— The incidence of anal cancer in the United States is on the rise in high-risk populations. The anal Papanicolaou test (APT) is advocated as a screening tool, in addition to digital rectal examination and high-resolution anoscopy. Objective.— To review our experience and the current literature to create, in cooperation with clinicians, a standardized screening and treatment algorithm given our large volume of APTs. Data Sources.— All APTs collected between January 2013 and June 2015 were reviewed and correlated with follow-up/concurrent biopsy diagnoses, and clinical and social history. In total, 1417 APTs were performed on 1185 patients and APT results were as follows: 17.4% (247 of 1417) unsatisfactory; 27.9% (395 of 1417) negative; 19.5% (276 of 1417) atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US); 24.1% (342 of 1417) low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL); 3.6% (51 of 1417) atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (ASC-H); and 7.5% (106 of 1417) HSIL. In total 376 cases (26.5%) had concurrent/follow-up biopsy. Review of all unsatisfactory cases with squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) on biopsy showed LSIL in 19.2% (5 of 26). Anal Papanicolaou test with cytologic abnormality (ASC-US+) had an 83.8% (315 of 376) rate of biopsy-proven disease, and sensitivity was higher (92%) for high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia or worse (AIN2+). Overall detection of AIN2+ using ASC-US+ showed specificity of 26%, negative predictive value of 92%, and positive predictive value of 26%. Conclusions.— Anal cytology has a high abnormal rate (54.7%) and sensitivity but poor correlation with histologic grade. High unsatisfactory rate indicates need for improvement in sampling with 68.4% of cases having SIL on biopsy. Multidisciplinary effort led to improvements in sampling, cytologic interpretation, and development of a standardized management algorithm.


2012 ◽  
Vol 137 (7) ◽  
pp. 936-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Khan ◽  
Debora A. Smith ◽  
Michael J. Thrall

Context.—Previous work has reported that most high-grade cervical neoplasia is seen in patients with preceding Papanicolaou test results of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. This information was based on conventional test results and the Bethesda 1991 reporting system and was determined before the current treatment guidelines. Objective.—Our objective was to perform a retrospective review of all histologically confirmed, high-grade cervical neoplasia to determine the diagnosis of the preceding liquid-based Papanicolaou test. Design.—A total of 189 histologically confirmed, high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) cases grade 2 and greater were identified for a 1-year period. Results.—Of the 189 cases, 10 (5.3%) had a previous diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance; 55 (29.1%) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions; 31 (16.4%) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, unable to rule out a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; 21 (11.1%) had atypical squamous cells, unable to rule out a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; 68 (36%) had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions; 1 (0.5%) had atypical glandular cells; 1 (0.5%) had adenocarcinoma in situ; and 2 (1%) had invasive carcinoma. Combined “low grade” Papanicolaou test results (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) preceded 51 of 103 cases of CIN 2 (49.5%) and 14 of 103 cases (13.6%) of CIN 3/cancer, whereas “high grade” Papanicolaou test results (atypical squamous cells, unable to rule out a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, unable to rule out a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions; atypical glandular cells; adenocarcinoma in situ; and invasive carcinoma) preceded 52 of 103 CIN 2 cases (50.5%) and 72 of 103 CIN 3/cancer cases (69.9%). Conclusions.—Our data show that we can now more-reliably predict high-grade dysplasia on routine Papanicolaou tests. Only a small fraction of histologically confirmed CIN 2/3 cases are found following a Papanicolaou test diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Eronmwon E. Gbinigie ◽  
Joshua Fogel ◽  
Maggie Tetrokalashvili

Background: Clinicians commonly perform colposcopy directed biopsies on patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) on PAP cytology even when not consistent with clinical guidelines. Objective: We study the association of PAP cytology screening results with cervical intra-epithelia neoplasia (CIN) 2-3 high-grade dysplasia, as confirmed by colposcopy-directed biopsy. Methods: A retrospective study of 263 women with an abnormality on the PAP smear. Multinomial logistic regression was performed with predictors of PAP cytology screening results with the outcome variable of colposcopy-directed biopsy. Results: High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) had significantly increased relative risk for CIN 2-3 (RR: 9.85, 95% CI: 1.84, 52.79, p=0.008). LSIL was not significantly associated with CIN 2-3. In the comparisons of negative with CIN-1, both HSIL and LSIL were not significantly associated with a negative biopsy. Conclusion: HSIL is associated with cervical dysplasia of CIN 2-3 while LSIL is not associated with cervical dysplasia of CIN 2-3. We do not recommend routine biopsies in patients with LSIL cytologic abnormalities unless additional compelling factors exist.


2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. McHale ◽  
Jessica Souther ◽  
John C. Elkas ◽  
Bradley J. Monk ◽  
Terry A. Harrison

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