Superior performance of liquid-based versus conventional cytology in a population-based cervical cancer screening program

Abstract Objective Liquid-based cytology may offer improvements over conventional cytology for cervical cancer screening. The two cytology techniques were compared in a group of 86,469 women who participated in a population-based screening program. Using a nation-wide pathology database containing both cervical cytology and histology records for all patients, we compared the outcome of the two screenings methods with regard to the detection rate of histological proven abnormalities and the determination of the true false-negative rates for both methods. Methods Two cohorts of women living in the same geographical region were used. Cohort 1 ( n =51,154 women) was analysed using conventional cytology (conventional cohort) and cohort 2 (liquid cohort) ( n =35,315 women) was analysed using liquid-based cytology (SurePath ® ). The samples were processed in one laboratory. The results of histological follow up were available via a central database. Results The rate of unsatisfactory slides was significantly lower using liquid-based cytology (0.13% vs. 0.89%, p p Conclusion This population study confirmed previous institution-based reports of decreased numbers of unsatisfactory samples based on liquid-based cytology and showed an increased sensitivity for the detection of cytological abnormalities that was validated by subsequent histological investigation.