EFFECT OF THE SPECIAL PROPERTIES OF MONOLAYER CELL PREPARATIONS FOR AUTOMATED CERVICAL CYTOLOGY ON VISUAL EVALUATION AND CLASSIFICATION - WITH AN ESTIMATION OF THE NUMBER OF CELLS REQUIRED TO BE SCREENED

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 5  (3) , 189-193
Abstract
Monolayer preparations used in cell image analysis show some peculiarities as compared with conventional cytologic smears, such as homogeneous distribution of cells, distinct appearance of cells and a reduced number of background elements. However, for use in gynecologic cytology, monolayer preparations must be accessible to visual examination and classification. To investigate the consequences of the special features of these preparations on the strategy of visual evaluation, the minimum number of cells needed for a diagnostic decision was estimated. Cell counts were made of gynecologic monolayer preparations from 50 women with no suspicion of malignancy and 50 women with invasive squamous-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and its precursors. The more serious the lesion, the lower the number of cells needed for a diagnostic decision. The highest mean values of numbers of cells needed for an effective diagnosis were estimated in cases of mild and moderate dysplasia (734 cells) and in non-suspicious cases (731 cells). The number of cells needed did not exceed 1700 in any case. The false-negative and false-positive rates were 6% and 2%, respectively, including the cases of mild to moderate dysplasia.