scholarly journals p16 immunostaining can avoid overdiagnosis in postmenopausal cervical cytology

Author(s):  
Yutaka Tsutsumi ◽  
◽  
Kazuya Shiogama ◽  
Ken Sakurai ◽  
Toru Arase ◽  
...  

Senile (atrophic) colpitis is microscopically characterized by the predominance of parabasal squamous cells and the paucity of superficial cells. The activated parabasal cells or dyskeratotic superficial cells may be confused with squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) in the routine cytology practice. A total of 29 cervical cytology specimens diagnosed as atypical squamous cells (ASC) or SIL were retrospectively sampled from 24 postmenopausal women (age range: 56–84 years, mean: 65.5, median: 65). Cytological diagnoses in the routine services included ASC-US 20, ASC-H 2, LSIL 4 and HSIL 3. All the specimens showed an atrophic background (senile colpitis). There were two microscopic patterns of senile colpitis with atypia: 1) parabasal cells were clustered (n = 23) and 2) dyskeratotic superficial cells were seen in a highly inflamed background (n = 6). Immunostaining for p16-INK4a (p16 in short) was performed, after the cells were transferred to trimethoxy[3-(phenylamino)propyl]silane-coated glass slides. Only three of the 29 cytology specimens (two of the 24 cases) judged as HSIL cytologically revealed p16 positivity in clustered atypical parabasal cells. Biopsy was performed in 11 cases, and chronic cervicitis without p16 expression was seen in nine. Two lesions showed p16-positive dysplasia (one mild dysplasia and another moderate dysplasia). In one lesion in an 84 year-old female, both cytology and histology specimens showed p16 positivity (HSIL). Discrepancy of p16 expression between the cytology and histology specimens was encountered in two lesions, representing sampling errors. It is of note that the overcytodiagnosis is avoidable with the aid of p16 immunostaining. Keywords: Atypical squamous cells (ASC), cell transfer technique, p16-INK4a, senile colpitis, squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL).

CytoJournal ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod B. Shidham ◽  
Ravi Mehrotra ◽  
George Varsegi ◽  
Krista L. D'Amore ◽  
Bryan Hunt ◽  
...  

Background: p16 INK4a (p16) is a well-recognized surrogate molecular marker for human papilloma virus (HPV) related squamous dysplasia. Our hypothesis is that the invasive interventions and related morbidities could be avoided by objective stratification of positive cytologic interpretations by p16 immunostaining of cell block sections of cytology specimens. Materials and Methods: Nuclear immunoreactivity for p16 was evaluated in cell block sections in 133 adequate cases [20 negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, 28 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 50 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 21 atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), and 14 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)] and analyzed with cervical biopsy results. Results: (a) HSIL cytology (28): 21 (75%) were p16 positive (11 biopsies available — 92% were positive for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 and above) and 7 (25%) were p16 negative (3 biopsies available — all showed only HPV with small atypical parakeratotic cells). (b) LSIL cytology (50): 13 (26%) cases were p16 positive (12 biopsies available — all were CIN1 or above) and 37 (74%) were p16 negative (12 biopsies available — all negative for dysplasia. However, 9 (75%) of these biopsies showed HPV). (c) ASC-H cytology (21): 14 (67%) were p16 positive (6 biopsies available — 5 showed CIN 3/Carcinoma in situ/Ca and 1 showed CIN 1 with possibility of under-sampling. Cytomorphologic re-review favored HSIL) and 7 (33%) were p16 negative (5 biopsies available — 3 negative for dysplasia. Remaining 2 cases — 1 positive for CIN 3 and 1 showed CIN 1 with scant ASC-H cells on cytomorphologic re-review with possibility under-sampling in cytology specimen). (d) ASCUS cytology (14): All (100%) were p16 negative on cell block sections of cervical cytology specimen. HPV testing performed in last 6 months in 7 cases was positive in 3 (43%) cases. Conclusion: p16 immunostaining on cell block sections of cervical cytology specimens showed distinct correlation patterns with biopsy results. Reflex p16 immunostaining of cell blocks based on the algorithmic approach to be evaluated by a multiinstitutional comprehensive prospective study is proposed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 485-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jakobsson ◽  
J Tarkkanen ◽  
E Auvinen ◽  
R Häkkinen ◽  
P Laurila ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to establish whether a combination of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing and cervical cytology could reduce colposcopy referral among women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cytology. We randomized 598 women in the Helsinki area, Finland into three study groups. Different strategies of hrHPV testing, cytology and colposcopy with biopsy were used; subsequent hrHPV test results and cytological findings were compared with histology. The rates of hrHPV positivity and CIN2+ were compared. In total, 62.5% of all samples were hrHPV-positive. Altogether 45 (12.7%) CIN2 or worse (CIN2+) lesions were found in study groups A and B. Among hrHPV-positive women the rate of CIN2+ was 19.0% ( n = 43), in contrast with 1.6% ( n = 2) among hrHPV-negative women (relative risk = 12.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6–81.1, P < 0.001). Among all hrHPV-negative women whose cytological findings were normal or ASCUS, dysplastic lesions were uncommon ( n = 4/119, 3.4%), and all were CIN1. If these women had not been referred to colposcopy, the number of colposcopies would have been reduced by 33.6%. We conclude that hrHPV testing combined with repeat cervical cytology had a high negative predictive value in patients with recurrent low-grade cervical cytology. This could reduce the referral rate to colposcopy without jeopardizing patient safety.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
Ekaterine Kldiashvili ◽  
Nikoloz Shakulashvili

The article aims at evaluating the use of telecytology and laboratory information management system (LIMS) as tools for the implementation of online cytology quality assurance programs under the conditions of Georgia. Five hundred gynecological cytology cases (benign – 350; atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) – 80; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) – 35; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) - 35) were randomly selected. The randomization has been done by using the Research Randomizer. Digital images were obtained in all cases at a maximum resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. Then, all 500 cases (medical data and images) were uploaded to the LIMS and were labelled “QA”. Diagnosis of glass slides and digital images were made independently in a double-blind manner by three certified cytologists, commencing with the diagnosis of “QA” cases followed by a diagnosis of glass slides four months later. It was found that the diagnoses of “QA” cases correspond with initial diagnoses.


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