title: Rapid review in cervical cytology: a retrospective review of cases detected on rapid review within a DGH cytology department and subsequent outcome.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed smears detected by rapid review within a district general hospital (DGH) laboratory over a period of 33 months and the subsequent histological or cytological outcome. Sixty-three cases had adequate follow-up data: 32 subsequently had two negative smears and 31 had a histological abnormality on subsequent biopsy. Twenty were high-grade lesions (CIN2, CIN3 or a glandular lesion) and eight of these were preceded by a low-grade smear abnormality. We reviewed and compared the pattern and distribution of smear abnormalities in these 63 cases. Abnormalities were often present within few cells (76%, n = 48 with 50 abnormal cells or less) or in micro-biopsies (27%, n = 17). There was no statistical difference in the pattern and distribution of smear abnormality between the rapid review-detected smears with a biopsy-proven abnormality and those with negative follow-up smears. Overall, the positive predictive value for high-grade CIN detected by rapid review (75%) was within NHSCSP achievable standards targets. This review of rapid review-detected abnormalities and the biopsy and cytological follow-up reiterates the importance of the method in cervical screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Pathology, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Molyneux
mesh_terms: D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom; D014626:Vaginal Smears