TERMINOLOGY - IAC TASK-FORCE SUMMARY

Issues Differences in type, structure, quality of health care systems and availability of resources influence reporting systems. In most cou ntries, individual systems have a long history of usage that might pre clude adoption of a uniform terminology worldwide. Consensus Position It is desirable but unrealistic at this time to aim for a unified term inology worldwide. It should be the stated objective of the Internatio nal Academy of Cytology to serve as an umbrella organization for vario us terminologies and enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Tra nslation tables of equivalent terms have been created to allow increas ed communication. Consensus has been achieved in defining essential el ements required of any terminology system: (1) the report must be text based: numerical Papanicolaou class designations alone are inadequate ; (2) an assessment of the adequacy of the sample should be included; and (3) the diagnosis must address the primary purpose of cervical cyt ology: to indicate the presence or absence of epithelial abnormalities . Incorporating additional elements within a terminology system may be more or less appropriate, depending on the setting in which the syste m is used. Ongoing Issues Despite the cited problems in adopting a uni form terminology worldwide, a single system would have many advantages in terms of communication and research and may be a long-term goal wo rth pursuing. Countries are invited to present their individual nation al terminology systems and participate in an ongoing dialogue, critica lly evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of all systems.