[Assessment of human papillomavirus testing on liquid-based Cyto-screen system for women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Effect of age]

Abstract

Objective: Analyse the performance of human papillomavirus testing with hybrid capture II on liquid-based CYTO-screen system for women diagnosed with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance according to the age.

Patients and methods: Were included all women diagnosed with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance for whom human papillomavirus testing was performed and cytological and histological procedures were available over a follow-up period of 6 to 18 months.

Results: Human papillomavirus testing was performed in 3,047 patients, and results were compared to cytological and histological follow-up diagnosis in 1,880 cases (61.7%). The sensitivity for diagnosing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was 93.3% in women less than 30 of age and 89.7% in women more than 30 of age. Specificity was 44.9% in women less than 30 of age and 64.4% in women more than 30 of age. Likelihood ratios confirmed these results as they show a low discriminatory power in case of positive result specifically in women less than 30 of age but an excellent performance in case of negative result.

Discussion and conclusion: The use of human papillomavirus testing after a diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance with the residual material of Cyto-screen system is a possible triage procedure to identify patients needing a colposcopy. Its specificity is better for women over 30.