title: Cytology, liquid-based cytology and automation.
abstract: Quality-assured, comprehensive, cytology-based population screening programmes have resulted in a substantial decline in the incidence of, and mortality from, cervical cancer. Cytology classification systems divide squamous cell abnormalities into low grade and high grade. Women with high-grade squamous abnormalities, cytology suggestive of glandular neoplasia, or invasive disease are referred immediately for investigation. Previously, the optimal management of women with low-grade cytology was uncertain. The introduction of liquid-based cytology has improved specimen adequacy and laboratory productivity, and also provided the platform for human papillomavirus testing for triage of low-grade abnormality, follow up after treatment and, ultimately, primary screening with triage to cytology, particularly in HPV-vaccinated populations. Liquid-based cytology is also ideal for automation-assisted reading of cervical cytology samples; however, recent studies have reported that automation-assisted reading is less sensitive than manual reading and does not reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. John.H.Smith@sth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: John H F
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears