Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Articles

The Bethesda System(TBS): A New Reporting System of Cervicovaginal Smear.: Hy Sook Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 1995;6(2):85-98.

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Abstract PDF: In 1989, the Bethesda System(TBS) was introduced as an attempt to standardize cervical/vaginal reporting systems. TBS nomenclature was created for reporting cytologic diagnoses to replace the currently used Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia(CIN) and Papanicolaou Class System which are deemed less reproducible. The name for preinvasive squamous lesions was changed to squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL), subdivided into low-grade and high-grade type. TBS recommends a specific format for cytologic report, starting with explicit statement on the adequacy of the specimen, followed by general categorization and descriptive diagnosis. Pathologic and epidemiologic studies performed over last 10 years have provided evidence that human, papillomavirus(HPV) plays a significant role in the development of cervical neoplasia. TBS corresponds not only to currently held views of the behavior of preinvasive lesions and their HPV distribution, but also to the current guidelines for clinical management.

Cytologic Analysis of Adenocarcinoma of the Cervicovaginal Smears .: Jung Yeon Kim, Hye Jae Cho, Kyung Ja Cho, Hong Kyoon Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(2):147-154.

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Abstract PDF: We have investigated the cervicovaginal smears in order to define the cytologic features of uterine adenocarcinomas. Total 22 cases were reviewed(12 cases from the Sanggye Paik hospital, Inje university and 10 cases from the Korea Cancer Center Hospital) from January 1992 to December 1997. Five cases were endometrial adenocarcinomas and the remaining 17 cases were cervical adenocarcinomas. Se venteen cases of cervical adenocarcinomas were divided into endometrioid(6 cases), endocervical(7 cases), mixed endometrioid and endocervical(1 case), papillary (2 cases), and adenosquamous(1 case) carcinomas. The background of endocervical adenocarcinoma was hemorrhagic or inflammatory. The tumor diathesis was less prominent than that of the squamous cell carcinoma. The prominent features of the endocervical type adenocarcinomas were large and loose clusters, large intra cytoplasmic vacuoles, and prominent overlapping and peripheral palisading of nuclei. In contrast, the endometrioid adenocarcinomas showed small and compact clusters, and small intracytoplasmic vacuoles. The detection rate of endometrial adeno carcinoma was lower than that of the endocervical adenocarcinoma.

Comparison of Qualified Diagnosis of "Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance" with Subsequent Biopsy .: Jae Soo Koh, Jin Haeng Chung, Seung Sook Lee, Kyung Ja Cho; Korean J Cytopathol. 1999;10(1):1-5.

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Abstract PDF: To evaluate whether different qualifications of a cytologic diagnosis of "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS)" predict a greater or lesser likelihood of tissue diagnosis of uterine cervix, we compared different cytologic qualifications of ASCUS with the tissue diagnosis. One hundred twenty-two con secutive Papanicolaou smears showing ASCUS in women who had undergone cervical biopsy within nearest 30 days were collected. The 122 smears were qualified as "favor reactive"(25%), "favor low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)"(24%), "favor squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL)"(16%), "favor high grade squa mous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL)"(16%), and "not otherwise specified"(19%). Squamous intraepithelial or invasive lesion was pathologically confirmed by cervical biopsy in 13% of the "favor reactive", 27% in "favor LSIL", 70% in "favor SIL", 75% in "favor HSIL", and 35% in "not otherwise specified" smears. There were significant asso ciations between the favor reactive smear and the benign biopsy finding and between the favor SIL smear and the biopsy showing a squamous intraepithelial or more severe lesion. Nevertheless, most of favor LSIL smears exhibit reactive process in tissue biopsy. Conclusively, qualified ASCUS stratifies women into different risk groups for SIL. The cytopathologist should make the cytologic diagnosis of "ASCUS, favor LSIL" circumspectly.

The Cytologic Analysis of Microinvasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix on Cervical Smear .: Hyun Joo Choi, In Ae Park; Korean J Cytopathol. 2001;12(1):31-37.

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Abstract PDF: While cytologic characteristics of squamous dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix are well documented, relatively few studies have dealt with the cellular features of microinvasive carcinoma. In order to describe the cellular characteristics of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma, we retrospectively reviewed 45 cervovaginal smears(15 carcinoma in situ, 15 microinvasive cancer, 15 invasive cancer) which were confirmed by histologic examination of specimens obtained by hysterectomy at the Seoul National University Hospital during 5 years from 1995 to 1999. The cytologic features about tumor diathesis, inflammatory background, cell arrangement, anisonucleosis, nuclear membrane irregularity, nuclear chromatin pattern, and nucleoli were observed. The cytologic characteristics of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix are syncytial pattern, mild tumor diathesis, the irregularity of nuclear membrane, irregularly distributed nuclear chromatin, and occurrence of micronucleoli. But, correlation between the depth of invasion and the cytologic feature had limited value.

Case Report

Exfoliation of endometrial cells on cervicovaginal smears.: Miseon Kang, Hye Kyoung Yoon; Korean J Cytopathol. 2001;12(2):97-103.

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Abstract PDF: The significance of endometrial cells on cervicovaginal smears is underestimated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the detection rate of endometrial cells on cervicovaginal smears. The materials consisted of two groups. Group I was 701 cervicovaginal smears from patients with no gynecological problems. Group II was 208 cervicovaginal smears from patients with abnormal uterine bleeding followed by endometrial curettage; 31 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma(CA), 19 cases of endometrial hyperplasia(HP), 83 cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding(DUB), and 75 cases of normal endometrium. Cervicovaginal smears was reviewed according to the criteria of The Bethesda System. Endometrial cells were identified in 15 of 701 cases(2.1%) in group I and 64 of 208 cases(30.8%) in group II. Among group II, detection rate of endometrial cells was the highest in CA (51.6%) compared to HP(26.3%), DUB(41.0%), and normal endometrium(12.0%) (p<0.05). Cytologic atypia of endometrial cells was not found in group I, but was more frequently identified in CA(87.5%) than in HP(10.5%) or DUB(14.7%) (p<0.05). Exfoliation of endometrial cells might be related to abnormal endometrial lesion, and reporting of endometrial cells in the cervicovaginal smear may increase a chance to detect endometrial lesions especially in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Original Articles

Exfoliation of Endometrial Cells on Cervicovaginal Smears.: Miseon Kang, Hye Kyoung Yoon; Korean J Cytopathol. 2002;13(1):1-7.

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Abstract PDF: The significance of endometrial cells on cervicovaginal smears is underestimated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the detection rate of endometrial cells on cervicovaginal smears. The materials consisted of two groups. Group I was 701 cervicovaginal smears from patients with no gynecological problems. Group II was 208 cervicovaginal smears from patients with abnormal uterine bleeding followed by endometrial curettage; 31 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma(CA), 19 cases of endometrial hyperplasia(HP), 83 cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding(DUB), and 75 cases of normal endometrium. Cervicovaginal smears were reviewed according to the criteria of The Bethesda System. Endometrial cells were identified in 15 of 701 cases(2.1%) in group I and 64 of 208 cases(30.8%) in group II. Among group II, detection rate of endometrial cells was the highest in CA (51.6%) compared to HP(26.3%), DUB(41.0%), and normal endometrium(12.0%) ( p<0.05). Cytologic atypia of endometrial cells was not found in group I, but was more frequently identified in CA(87.5%) than in HP(10.5%) or DUB(14.7%) ( p<0.05). Exfoliation of endometrial cells might be related to abnormal endometrial lesion, and reporting of endometrial cells in the cervicovaginal smear may increase a chance to detect endometrial lesions especially in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

A Comparision of AutoCyte PREP with Matched Conventional Smear in Cervicovaginal Cytology.: Jaejung Jang, Jungsun Kim, Kyung Ja Cho, Shin Kwang Khang, Joo Hyun Nam, Gyungyub Gong; Korean J Cytopathol. 2002;13(1):8-13.

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Abstract PDF: This study was designed to compare the performance of liquid-based preparation from the AutoCyte PREP with the conventional cervicovaginal smear in masked split-samples. In randomly selected 840 cases, the conventional smear was always prepared first, and the AutoCyte PREP used the residual cells on the collecting device. Parallel AutoCyte PREP slides and matched conventional smears were screened in a blind fashion. All abnormals and 10% random normal cases were reviewed by two pathologists in a blind fashion. The Bethesda System was used for reporting the diagnosis and specimen adequacy. The diagnoses from the two methods were agreed exactly in 767(91.3%) of 840 cases. The AutoCyte PREP demonstrated a 25% overall improvement in the detection of squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL). The ratio of ASCUS to SIL was decreased as 0.45 compared with 1.00 of conventional smear. The AutoCyte PREP produced excellent cellular preservation and superior sensitivity for detection of atypical cells as compared to the conventional smear. It makes us to be able to subclassify ASCUS into from WNL to HSIL. We thought that the AutoCyte PREP method might contribute to increase the detection rate of abnormal cells than conventional methods.

Case Report

Cytologic Features of Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Report of Two Cases.: Hyun Yee Cho, Seung Yeon Ha, Jaegul Chung, Young Ha Oh, Dong Hae Chung, Na Rae Kim, Jong Min Lee, Eui Don Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 2003;14(2):66-70.

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Abstract PDF: Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare type of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report on cytologic findings of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in the literature. Recently, we experienced two cases of signet ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The finding of characteristic signet ring cells on cervicovaginal smear led to the diagnosis of signet ring cell carcinoma. However, primary signet ring cell carcinoma could not be cytologically distinguished from more common metastatic tumor. Therefore, diagnosis rests upon the recognition of signet ring cells and the absence of signet ring cell carcinoma elsewhere.

Original Articles

Immunocytochemical Staining for p16 of Atypical Squamous Cells in Cervicovaginal Smear.: Hwal Woong Kim, Jong Sil Lee, Jeong Hee Lee, Gyung Hyuck Ko; Korean J Cytopathol. 2004;15(1):28-32.

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Abstract PDF: It was reported that the main cause of intraepithelial neoplasm and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is human papilloma virus infection, and that the expression of p16 is increased in cells infected by human papilloma virus. We performed an immunocytochemical staining for protein p16 in 17 cases of cervocovaginal smears initially diagnosed as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, to know whether the staining could help the differentiation of neoplastic cells from reactive atypical cells. Of 17 smears, 6 were diagnosed finally as high grade intraepithelial neoplasm or invasive squamous cell carcinoma by follow-up biopsy and smear, and 5 of the 6 were positive for p16. Three were diagnosed as koilocytosis, and one of them was weakly positive for p16. Eight were diagnosed as reactive atypical cells, and all of them were negative for p16. We thought that immunocytochemical staining of p16 in cervocovaginal smears could help the differentiation of neoplastic cells from reactive atypical cells.

Liquid-Based Cytology Using MonoPrep2(TM) System in Cervicovaginal Cytology: Comparative Study with Conventional Pap Smear and Histology.: Yoon Kyung Jeon, Ok Ran Kim, Ki Wha Park, Soon Beom Kang, In Ae Park; Korean J Cytopathol. 2004;15(1):33-39.

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Abstract PDF: We compared the diagnostic accuracy of liquid-based cervicovaginal cytology using MonoPrep2(TM) system (Monogen, Herndon, Virginia, USA), a manual system based on membrane filtration method, with conventional Pap smear. Study population included 92 patients visiting the gynecologic department under the suspicion of uterine cervical disease. In thirty of them, surgical biopsy was performed. MonoPrep2(TM) system provided well-preserved monolayer specimen with good nuclear morphology. However, about 19% of specimens were inadequate to interpret due to low cellularity. The detection rate of abnormal cells more than ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of unknown significance) was 23.9% and higher than 19.4 % of conventional Pap smear. Diagnostic concordance rate with conventional Pap smear was 81%, and severe discordance rate influencing on the management of patient was 7.6 %. Among these seven cases, MonoPrep2(TM) system was more diagnostic only in four. In comparison with histology, the sensitivity of diagnosis of MonoPrep2(TM) system was 78.9% and slightly higher than 73.5% of conventional Pap smear. However, the specificity was 81.1% and lower than 90.9% of Pap smear. In conclusion, MonoPrep2(TM) system provided diagnostic accuracies similar to the conventional Pap smear. The inexpertness of slide preparation and the low cellularity were considered to endow a limitation in more accurate evaluation.

Pregnancy-Related Cytologic Changes In Cervicovaginal Smears.: Yi Kyeong Chun, Hoi Sook Jang, Hye Sun Kim, Sung Ran Hong, Jong Sun Choi, Ji Young Park, Jung Sook Cho, Seok Ju Seong, Jae Hyug Yang, Hy Sook Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 2004;15(2):92-100.

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Abstract PDF: Due to insufficient clinical information, most cervicovaginal smears from pregnant or postpartum women have been screened without regard to pregnancy-related cytological changes. Here, we have reviewed 116 abnormal cervicovaginal smears from 103 pregnant and postpartum women. Initial cytological diagnoses revealed the following: 9 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 8 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 85 cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), and 14 cases involving atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS). 31 cases, upon review, involved pregnancy-related cytological changes, comprising 25 cases of decidua cells, 4 cases of Arias-Stella reaction, and 2 cases of decidual cells coupled with Arias-Stella reaction. Interpretation errors were detected in 14 cases: 13 cases of decidual cells interpreted as either ASCUS favor reactive or ASCUS ruled out HSIL, and one case of Arias-Stella reaction was interpreted as ASCUS ruled out HSIL. Decidual cells and degenerated glandular cells with Arias-Stella reaction can result in diagnostic mistakes. In order to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgeries, both clinicians and pathologists must be aware of the pregnancy-related cytological changes. The clinician should also always inform the pathologist on the pregnancy status of the patient.

A Comparision of Surepath(TM) Liquid-Based Smear with a Conventional Smear for Cervicovaginal Cytology-with Reference to a Histological Diagnosis.: Kyung Chul Lee, Chan Kwon Jung, Ahwon Lee, Eun Sun Jung, Yeong Jin Choi, Jong Sup Park, Kyo Young Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 2007;18(1):20-28.

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Abstract PDF: This study was performed to compare Surepath(TM) liquid-based smear and a conventional cervicovaginal smear with reference to a histological diagnosis. A hybrid capture test (HCII) was also performed and analyzed. We collected matched cases for cervicovaginal cytology- histology: 207 cases for conventional cytology (CC) and 199 cases for liquid-based cytology (LBC). HCII was performed in 254 patients. When a cytological diagnosis of ASCUS or above (ASCUS+) is classified as positive and a histological diagnosis of LSIL+ is classified as positive, the sensitivity and specificity for LBC was 91.7% and 75.9%, respectively and the sensitivity and specificity for CC was 62.6% and 96.1%, respectively. When a cytological and histological diagnosis of LSIL+ is classified as positive, the sensitivity and specificity for LBC was 77.5 and 96.6%, respectively and the sensitivity and specificity for CC was 49.7% and 100%, respectively. When a histological diagnosis of LSIL+ is classified as positive, the sensitivity and specificity for HCII was 78.9% and 78.1%, respectively. The concordance ratio between the cytological and histological diagnosis was 80.4% (kappa=76.0) for LBC and 56.5% (kappa=55.1) for CC. LBC is more sensitive and less specific then CC, as a cytological cutoff level of ASCUS, but more sensitive and equally specific, as a cytological cutoff level LSIL or HSIL. LBC is more reliable with a high concordance ratio between the cytological and histological diagnosis.

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