Can technology expedite the cervical cancer screening process? A Hong Kong experience using the AutoPap primary screening system with location-guided screening capability.
We studied the usefulness of an automated screening instrument for processing Papanicolaou (Pap) smears to determine whether it could speed human examination by recording the time to screen 1,007 cervical Pap smears with an AutoPap primary screening instrument with location-guided screening (LGS) software and by conventional microscopic examination. We also assessed the accuracy of the methods to determine preparation adequacy, and we compared the diagnosis by each method. The AutoPap with LGS satisfactorily determined the adequacy of Pap smears and identified the marked abnormal cells for human examination. An accurate diagnosis was possible when only the marked cells were examined, and this method reduced the screening time to less than half that required for conventional screening. With low-grade squamous intraepithelial and more severe lesions as a threshold, there were 37 cases in the conventional group and 29 cases in the LGS group. With atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance as the threshold, there were 111 cases in the LGS group and 93 cases in the conventional group. The AutoPap with LGS can significantly speed the examination of Pap smears without lowering the detection rate of clinically important lesions, thus helping alleviate the cytotechnologist shortage.
Chang
Alexander R
AR
Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, People's Republic of China.
Lin
Wai F
WF
Chang
Andrina
A
Chong
King S
KS
D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000379:methods*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology