title: Cytological analysis of atypical squamous epithelial cells of undetermined significance using the world wide web.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The low-level consistency of the cytodiagnosis of uterine cervical atypical squamous epithelial cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) employing the Bethesda System has been reported, suggesting the necessity of a wide survey. We presented cases judged as ASC-US on the Web and analyzed the voting results to investigate ASC-US cytologically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytology samples from 129 patients diagnosed with ASC-US were used. Images of several atypical cells observed in these cases were presented on the Web. The study, based on the voting results, was presented and opinions were exchanged at the meeting of the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final diagnosis of ASC-US was benign lesions in 76 cases and low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 44, but no definite diagnosis could be made for the remaining 9. The total number of votes was 17,884 with a 36.5% consistency of cases judged as ASC-US. Benign cases were divided into 6 categories. Four categories not corresponding to the features of koilocytosis and small abnormal keratinized cells were judged as negative for an intraepithelial lesion or malignancy at a high rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A Web-based survey would be useful which could be viewed at any time and thereby facilitate the sharing of cases to increase consistency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathologic Analysis, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki, Japan. kwashiya@cc.hirosaki-u-ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyotada
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Washiya
authors.forename: Ichinosuke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambo
authors.forename: Muneo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Estuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okusawa
authors.forename: Kyousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asanuma
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears