title: Interobserver variability in human papillomavirus test results in cervicovaginal cytologic specimens interpreted as atypical squamous cells.
abstract: We studied interobserver variability in the proportions of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive results for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) diagnoses among 5 pathologists from the me laboratory during a 2-year period. These proportions were compared with individual pathologist's ASCUS/squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) ratios. Of 1,299 ASCUS diagnoses, 32.3% had HPV testing; 49.4% were HPV+. Positive findings by individual pathologists ranged from 38% to 67% (P = .057). There was a difference in the proportions of high risk HPV results for individual pathologists (P < .001). For the pathologist who diagnosed 38% (23/61) of samples as HPV+, the ASCUS/SIL was 0.58; the pathologist who diagnosed 67% (28/42) as HPV+ had a ratio of 1.02. Of the ASC-H diagnoses, 32.9% were tested for HPV; 63% (46/73) were positive. Although the HPV+ proportion by pathologist ranged from 54% to 83%, no significant differences were identified. Within the me laboratory, interobserver variability exists in the proportions of HPV positivity for ASCUS and ASC-H interpretations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Kim R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Geisinger
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vrbin
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Grzybicki
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: A Julian
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Garvin
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Raab
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral