The utility of pap cell block preparations with liqui-PREP™ cell pellets to clarify the cytological diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and atypical glandular cells.
OBJECTIVE
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical glandular cells (AGC) reflect cellular abnormalities insufficient for clear diagnosis. We used cell pellets obtained from liquid-based cytology (LBC) to prepare cell blocks (CB) and clarify the initial diagnosis of ASCUS and AGC.


METHODS
A total of 393 CBs with initial diagnosis of ASCUS or AGC were processed. Of those, 305 of the ASCUS and 20 of the AGC had adequate specimens. We compared results of CBs prepared from ASCUS and AGC to determine which had higher frequencies of higher-grade lesions.


RESULTS
A majority of specimens (83%) were adequate for evaluation. Compared with the initial diagnosis, 14% (42/305) of ASCUS were diagnosed with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in CB, while 10% (2/20) of AGC were diagnosed with LSIL or adenocarcinoma. No statistical relationship between the initial diagnosis of ASCUS and AGC and results of higher-grade lesions in CB is evident as determined by p value greater than 0.05 (p = 0.228).


CONCLUSIONS
CBs prepared from Liqui-PREP cell pellets are, in most cases, assessable and can be useful as an adjunctive test to help clarify the initial diagnosis of ASCUS and AGC. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:520-525. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Republica Dominicana.
Nicholas B
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7626-0349
NB
George
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Republica Dominicana.
Jashua Haddad
JH
Baldassari
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Republica Dominicana.
Digno A
DA
Pérez Taveras
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Republica Dominicana.
María
M
José Fernández
Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Republica Dominicana.
María
M
Concepción Robledo
D000328:Adult; D065309:Atypical Squamous Cells of the Cervix / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
atypical glandular cells; atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance; cell block; liquid-based cytology; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; pap test