Histopathological correlation of squamous cell abnormalities detected on cervical cytology.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the correlation between cytology and cervical biopsy in patients with squamous cell abnormality on cervical cytology. MATERIAL AND METHOD The cervical smears diagnosed in our clinic between 2005-2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases which exhibited squamous cell abnormality (n: 374) were evaluated. RESULTS The mean age was 45.15±10.78. In the cytopathological results, 256 (68.4%) ASC-US, 21 (5.6%) ASC-H, 31 (8.2%) LSIL, 48 (12.8%) HSIL, and 8 (4.8%) invasive carcinomas were diagnosed. Histopathological results were 213 (57%) nonneoplastic, 85 (22.7%) CIN I, 14 (3.7%) CIN II, 34(9.0%) CIN III and 28 (7.5%) invasive squamous cell carcinomas. Including all squamous cell abnormalities, the sensitivity of the smear test in CIN I and higher grade lesions was 56.95% and the false positivity was 43.04%. Excluding ASC-US and ASC-H lesions, the sensitivity of the smear test was 77.31% and the false positivity was 22.68%. After evaluating cervical cytohistopathological correlation, the positive predictive value was found to be 100% in invasive carcinoma, 62% in HSIL and 38% in LSIL. CONCLUSION As the grade of cytopathological result increases, the correlation between biopsy and the smear test also increases. The high sensitivity of the cervical smear test for high-grade lesions shows that it is an effective screening test.