Terms without borders: An international approach to terminology

A global review of age-specific and overall prevalence of cervical lesions

BACKGROUND

Overall and age-specific cervical cytological and histological abnormalities prevalence data across geographical regions, in conjunction with human papillomavirus vaccination status, will be important for the future evaluation of HPV prophylactic vaccine effectiveness.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to summarize worldwide data on the prevalence of high- and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 or 1.

RESULTS

More than 12,400,000 women were included in 103 studies. Most studies were from Europe and Middle East (40%) or North America (14%), 14% were from Asia, 17% from Central and South America, and 15% from Africa. Age-specific data were limited from Asia, Central and South America, and Africa. Screening techniques and study exclusion criteria varied, depending on region and population surveyed. Age trends of high-grade cervical lesions seemed to peak at a relatively younger age in North America (<30 years), compared with 25 to 40 years in Europe and Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Age patterns of low-grade lesions generally declined after a peak in the younger age groups (20-30 years). Age-specific CIN 1 and CIN 2/3 prevalence were lower compared with low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions from the same studies, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Variation in the age patterns of high-grade lesions across regions is likely attributable to differences in age at screening initiation, frequency, coverage, and rates of follow-up of women with cervical abnormalities. Observed age patterns of low-grade lesions are generally consistent to those of human papillomavirus infection in women worldwide. Potential factors contributing to variations in the burden of cytological and histological abnormalities across studies include subjectivity in evaluating cytological slides and discrepancies in the processing, referral rates, and diagnostic interpretation of colposcopically directed biopsy.

Informatics applied to cytology

Automation and emerging information technologies are being adopted by cytology laboratories to augment Pap test screening and improve diagnostic accuracy. As a result, informatics, the application of computers and information systems to information management, has become essential for the successful operation of the cytopathology laboratory. This review describes how laboratory information management systems can be used to achieve an automated and seamless workflow process. The utilization of software, electronic databases and spreadsheets to perform necessary quality control measures are discussed, as well as a Lean production system and Six Sigma approach, to reduce errors in the cytopathology laboratory.

Is this the end of the line for the moderate dyskaryotic smear?

OBJECTIVE

The British Society for Clinical Cytology has recently proposed that the terminology for cervical smear reporting is to be changed from a 3-tier system (mild, moderate, severe dyskaryosis) to a 2-tier system of low-grade and high-grade dyskaryosis. This modification eliminates the central category of moderate dyskaryosis which would be incorporated into the high-grade group. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the moderate dyskaryotic smear in clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all women who were referred for colposcopy because of a moderate dyskaryotic smear was carried out for a 6-month period. Data collected included colposcopic impression, procedure performed and final histopathology. Two cytologists who were unaware of the original smear report were asked to reclassify these smears using the new 2-tier system. Their findings were compared with the documented colposcopic and histopathology results.

RESULTS

One hundred women with moderate dyskaryotic smears were referred for colposcopy during the study period. Most of these were reclassified as high-grade dyskaryosis using the new system. Fifty-six (72%) of the moderate dyskaryotic smears which were correctly regraded as high grade by cytologist 1 were found to have cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 on final histopathology, whereas for cytologist 2, 66 (68%) were found to have high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

CONCLUSION

There is no clinical benefit in retaining the term moderate dyskaryosis. This study emphasizes the need for a uniform 2-tier system.

European guidelines for quality assurance in cervical cancer screening: recommendations for cervical cytology terminology

There are many different systems of cytology classification used in the member states of the European Union (EU) and many different languages. The following short annexe to Chapter 3 of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Cervical Cancer Screening provides a framework that will allow different terminologies and languages to be translated into standard terminology based on the Bethesda system (TBS) for cytology while retaining the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) classification for histology. This approach has followed extensive consultation with representatives of many countries and professional groups as well as a discussion forum published in Cytopathology (2005;16:113). This article will describe the reporting of specimen adequacy, which is dealt with in more detail elsewhere in Chapter 3 of the guidelines, the optional general categorization recommended in TBS, the interpretation/cytology result and other comments that may be made on reports such as concurrent human papillomavirus testing and the use of automation review and recommendations for management. The main categories in TBS will be described in the context of CIN, dyskaryosis and dysplasia terminologies so that all may be translated into the same framework. These guidelines should allow European countries to adapt their terminology in such a way as to make their screening programmes comparable with each other as well as with programmes elsewhere in the world.