INACCURACY OF CYTOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS IN HIGH-GRADE SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS (CIN 3)

Through a retrospective review of records, this study attempted to det ermine whether a correlation between cytology and histology would chan ge with time in one laboratory. The study encompassed a geographic are a of Scotland with a female population of 175,500 served by one colpos copy clinic, at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. The sub jects were referred io the Ninewells colposcopy clinic between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1990. The results showed many women with hi gh grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) (GIN 3) and cytology revealing abnormalities milder than severe dyskaryosis, for an average of 71.9% over the six years of the study. The referral of women for c olposcopic assessment if they have persistent smears showing mild dysk aryosis suggestive of low grade SILs seems to be worthwhile.