Errors in interpreting the severity of intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer in cytological cervical screening

Smetanina S.V.; Shadrova O.M.; Puriaeva E.V.; Khusiyanova A.A.; Gamayunov S.V.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/onkolog20251402136

Smetanina S.V.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0002-7000-5910

Shadrova O.M.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0001-5675-5080

Puriaeva E.V.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0002-7021-9062

Khusiyanova A.A.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0001-5212-9568

Gamayunov S.V.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0002-0223-0753

Errors in interpreting the severity of intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer in cytological cervical screening

Authors:

Smetanina S.V., Shadrova O.M., Puriaeva E.V., Khusiyanova A.A., Gamayunov S.V.

More about the authors

Journal: P.A. Herzen Journal of Oncology. 2025;14(2): 36‑40

DOI: 10.17116/onkolog20251402136

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To cite this article:

Smetanina SV, Shadrova OM, Puriaeva EV, Khusiyanova AA, Gamayunov SV. Errors in interpreting the severity of intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer in cytological cervical screening. P.A. Herzen Journal of Oncology. 2025;14(2):36‑40. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/onkolog20251402136

Подписка 2026 Онкология. Журнал им. П.А. Герцена (P.A. Herzen Journal of Oncology)

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

Abstract:

ABSTRACT

Cytological diagnostics of cervical cancer (CC) is still widely used as a screening tool in Russia. One of the goals of CC screening is to detect intraepithelial lesions. High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) of the cervix have an increased risk of progression to cancer as a result of persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Conversely, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) of the cervix often reflect transient HPV infection and regress over time.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the capabilities of the cytological method in detecting cancer and intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Of the 94.352 cytological preparations that were evaluated in our laboratory between January 2023 and December 2023 inclusive, 700 smears with atypical cells were selected for re-examination and comparison with the clinical diagnosis. As a result, 328 cases for which additional research protocols were available were compared.

RESULTS

The cellular composition of the cytological preparation demonstrating unambiguous signs of LSIL or atypia of undetermined significance (ASCUS) did not always correspond to the results of additional examination of women and, as a consequence, the complete clinical picture and in 19.4% and 19.3%, respectively, were associated with the diagnosis of severe cervical dysplasia (ICD-10 N87.2) or carcinoma. The cellular composition of the cytological preparation demonstrating unambiguous signs of HSIL or intraepithelial lesions that do not exclude HSIL (ASC-H) in 71.8% confirmed the presence of severe cervical dysplasia of the uterus (ICD-10 N87.2) in women and in 26.2% made it possible to establish the presence of cervical carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Incorrect interpretation of the morphological picture by the cytologist may be associated with the small size or inaccessibility of the lesion, with inadequate technique for obtaining the material, or lack of clinical data.

Keywords:

cervical cancer screening

cytological diagnosis

Authors:

Smetanina S.V.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0002-7000-5910

Shadrova O.M.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0001-5675-5080

Puriaeva E.V.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0002-7021-9062

Khusiyanova A.A.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0001-5212-9568

Gamayunov S.V.

Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary

ORCID: 0000-0002-0223-0753

Received:

28.05.2024

Accepted:

23.07.2024

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References:

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