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Selective screening for nongynecologic cytology specimens: modifying the screening process for improved efficiency
Deborah A Marks-Jones1, Beverly A Sutkowski, Karen E Schoedel
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Diagnostic Cytopathology
|September 16, 2011
Summary
Selective slide screening in nongynecologic cytology saves cytotechnologist time without compromising patient care. This approach allows efficient case processing while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Cytopathology
- Oncology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Nongynecologic (NG) cytology cases often involve multiple slides.
- Screening all slides may be unnecessary when malignant cells are evident.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that selective screening of slides by cytotechnologists (CTs) is as effective as routine screening of all slides.
- To evaluate the efficiency and diagnostic accuracy of a selective screening process (SSP).
Main Methods:
- CTs screened and marked overtly malignant or neoplastic cells on up to three slides per case (SSP).
- Cases requiring more than three slides were excluded from SSP.
- Data on slide count, screening, diagnosis, and cytologic-histologic correlation (CHC) were collected over 10 months.
- SSP data were compared to routine screening data.
Main Results:
- SSP was performed on 191 cases, with an average of 1.9 slides screened per case.
- An average of 6.3 unscreened slides were passed to the pathologist per case.
- SSP saved an average of 83.6 minutes of CT time daily.
- No false-positive cases were identified in either SSP or routine screening groups.
- Diagnostic accuracy was 98% for SSP and 100% for routine screening.
Conclusions:
- Selective slide screening is an efficient method for cytotechnologists in NG cytology.
- SSP allows for reduced slide screening without compromising patient care or diagnostic accuracy.
- This process streamlines workflow and improves pathologist efficiency.
