Cytological Characteristics of Endometrial Phasing Using the Specimens Prepared with the Liquid-Based Procedure: Comparison with the Conventional Procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether or not the liquid-based procedure (LBP) for endometrial cytology is as worthwhile for endometrial phasing as conventional slides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 81 women who underwent endometrial cytology and were defined as negative. The specimens obtained by either Endocyte® or Masubuchi aspiration tube® were processed first with the conventional procedure and then with LBP using TACAS™. RESULTS: (1) The number of subjects diagnosed by the conventional method as having proliferative, mid-, middle-secretory and late-secretory and atrophic phases was 40, 11, 10, 0 and 20, respectively. The rate of agreement with those using LBP was 87.7%. (2) Incidences of large clusters, ductal clusters, palisade arrangement, uneven staining and dirty mucous background detected were significantly higher with the conventional method, whereas with LBP clean background, inconspicuous bonding of cells, scattered solitary glandular cells, clear well-stained cytoplasm and cell compactness were higher. (3) Especially in the proliferative phase, clusters tended to be smaller and lose their architectural structures, and scattered solitary columnar cells were present. (4) Cells in the mid-phase tended to have loose contact and to mimic other phases. CONCLUSIONS: Cytodiagnosis of endometrial phasing prepared with LBP is feasible to perform when some modifications are implemented.

Evaluation of a New Automated Processing System (TACAS™ Pro) for Liquid-Based Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a fully automated processing system (TACAS™ Pro) for liquid-based procedures (LBPs). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Materials were 3,483 and additionally 502 specimens that were taken at Kanagawa Health Service Association. Specimens obtained with a Cervex-Brush® were first smeared to glass slides using one side of the brush and then processed to TACAS Pro. RESULTS: (1) The microscopy watching time per normal case was 3.65 ± 0.85 min in the conventional procedure, whereas in the LBP it was 1.95 ± 0.60 min, and the latter reduced workload to 53%. (2) The handling time of TACAS Pro per day was 2 h and 25.8 min. The workload at a laboratory offset it and revealed the work saving to be 63.8%. (3) Unsatisfactory rates were 0% in the conventional procedure, whereas in the LBP it was 1.88% at first. The latter rate decreased to 0.5% after system improvement. (4) Specimens which may disturb microscopy analysis were found in 1.06%, including 3 cases of possible carry-over of cells to the following slides. An additional study with the revised system confirmed no carry-over. (5) Incidences of abnormal cytology were consistent between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: The revised automated processing system TACAS Pro is a feasible and useful LBP and reduces the workload of cytology laboratories.

Application of a new liquid-based procedure (TACAS) for the screening of cervical cancer: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a new liquid-based cytological procedure in a population screening program for cervix cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were 1,000 women who underwent primary screening at the Kanagawa Health Service Association. The cytological specimens obtained by either cotton stick and Cytobrush® or Cervex-Brush® were processed using the Thinlayer Advanced Cytology Assay System (TACAS™), following the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: (1) Cells were evenly distributed on specimens and stained evenly; (2) shrinkage of cells was 5% based on measurement of the nuclear diameters of granulocytes in comparison with those of the conventional procedure; (3) incidences of cells that occupied the whole area, 1/20≤, 1/4≤, 1/4> of the observation fields were 58.8, 26.2, 12.0 and 3.0%, respectively; (4) number of the squamous cells in cases with 1/4> was <5,000, in which specimen cells were correctly obtained from the squamocolumnar junction except in 3 cases (0.3%); (5) bleeding at cellular sampling was 5%, but did not disturb cell analysis; (6) inflammation caused by organisms was easily diagnosed; (7) detection rate of abnormal cytology was 4.3%, including ASC-US in 2.8% and ASC-H in 0.1%. CONCLUSION: TACAS is a feasible and useful cytological procedure.