Interobserver Variability in Human Papillomavirus Test Results in Cervicovaginal Cytologic Specimens Interpreted as Atypical Squamous Cells
Open Access
- 1 December 2007
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in American Journal of Clinical Pathology
- Vol. 128 (6), 1010-1014
- https://doi.org/10.1309/j086t2ub1wdl1lqu
Abstract
We studied interobserver variability in the proportions of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive results for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) diagnoses among 5 pathologists from the same laboratory during a 2-year period. These proportions were compared with individual pathologist’s ASCUS/squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) ratios. Of 1,299 ASCUS diagnoses, 32.3% had HPV testing; 49.4% were HPV+. Positive findings by individual pathologists ranged from 38% to 67% (P = .057). There was a difference in the proportions of high-risk HPV results for individual pathologists (P < .001). For the pathologist who diagnosed 38% (23/61) of samples as HPV+, the ASCUS/SIL was 0.58; the pathologist who diagnosed 67% (28/42) as HPV+ had a ratio of 1.02. Of the ASC-H diagnoses, 32.9% were tested for HPV; 63% (46/73) were positive. Although the HPV+ proportion by pathologist ranged from 54% to 83%, no significant differences were identified. Within the same laboratory, interobserver variability exists in the proportions of HPV positivity for ASCUS and ASC-H interpretations.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluating the Risk of Cervical Precancer with a Combination of Cytologic, Virologic, and Visual MethodsCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2005
- Toward Objective Quality AssuranceAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2002