title: Neural network-based screening of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usefulness of computerized rescreening for detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in patients with cytological evidence of atypical squamous cells of undertermined significance (ASCUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eight patients with ASCUS cytology who had undergone colposcopy had their Papanicolaou smears reviewed using PAPNET, a neural network-based instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty (18.5%) of the 108 slides were reclassified to a higher-grade lesion. Analysis showed sensitivity (77.8%), specificity (86.9%), and positive (35%) and negative (97.7%) predictive values for detection of high-grade CIN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAPNET neural network-based rescreening of ASCUS smears identifies patients with high-grade cancer precursors. It may be a triage test for ASCUS cytology.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and †Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dunton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Hoeven
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCleery