title: Qualification of ASCUS. A comparison of equivocal LSIL and equivocal HSIL cervical cytology in the ASCUS LSIL Triage Study.
abstract: Cytologic detection of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) is critical to cervical cancer prevention. Therefore, identifying "equivocal HSIL" (ASCUS [atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance]-H) may be useful. Accordingly, we compared findings associated with "equivocal low-grade SIL" (ASCUS-L), ASCUS-H, and HSIL using data from the ASCUS LSIL (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) Triage Study. The frequency of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection and underlying lesions cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or worse or CIN 3 or worse in women with ASCUS-H was intermediate between that of ASCUS-L and HSIL. Oncogenic HPV DNA was associated with 85.6% of ASCUS-H ThinPreps and 69.8% of ASCUS-H smears. Histopathologic lesions CIN 2 or worse were associated with 40.5% of ASCUS-H ThinPreps and 27.2% of ASCUS-H smears (mostly CIN 3). Nevertheless, numerically more lesions CIN 2 or worse were preceded by ASCUS-L than by ASCUS-H because ASCUS-L was more common. ASCUS-H is an uncommon interpretation that derives clinical usefulness from its high positive predictive value for lesions CIN 2 or worse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Blvd, Room 7080, Rockville, MD 20852-7374, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiffman
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014218:Triage; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology / Q000145:classification; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral