title: High-risk HPV DNA detection rate in patients with atypical squamous cells and its relationship to the atypical squamous cell: squamous intraepithelial lesion ratio.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is any relationship between the atypical squamous cell (ASC):squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) ratio and high-risk HPV DNA detection rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the frequency of various cytologic diagnoses for each pathologist were retrieved from 2002 to 2003. ASC:SIL ratio for each pathologist was calculated. In addition, data related to high-risk HPV detection rate was obtained during the study period. HPV DNA testing was performed using HC II (Digene, Gaithersburg, Maryland U.S.A). Cases with insufficient quantity were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five pathologists, with experience ranging from 2 to 15 years, reviewed Pap tests during the study period. For the entire laboratory, the ASC:SIL ratio was 2.0, and the high-risk HPV DNA detection rate in ASC specimens was 31%. For individual pathologists, ASC:SIL ratio ranged from 1.2 to 4.0 and high-risk HPV DNA detection rate from 31% to 38%. No significant correlation was noted between the ASC:SIL ratio and high-risk HP DNA detection rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our ASC:SIL ratios (except for 1 pathologist) and high-risk HPV DNA detection rates were within an acceptable range. We did not observe any association between ASC:SIL ratio and high-risk HPV detection rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35249-6823, USA. dchhieng@path.uab.edu
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chhieng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Janie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roberson
authors.forename: Isam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eltoum
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D015588:Observer Variation; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral