The use of the PAPNET automated cytological screening system for the diagnosis of oral squamous carcinoma

The automated PAPNET screening system has been developed to recognize abnormal cells in cervical smears. Given that the oral mucosa sheds cells resembling superficial and intermediate cells of the cervix, the aim of this study was to assess whether the PAPNET system could be used to detect dysplastic cells in oral mucosal smears. Sixty-two oral smears from 27 patients were examined by both light microscopy and using the PAPNET system from clinically abnormal and normal areas by two pathologists. The clinically abnormal sites were also biopsied for histological analysis. There was 100% correlation between the manual and PAPNET screening results. Cytological interpretation of oral smears by both manual and PAPNET screening methods correctly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma in 14/23 (61%) of patients who had all been confirmed by biopsy. The nine patients with false-negative cases could be attributed to poor smear technique and preparation. The PAPNET system can be used to identify abnormal cells in oral smears and, as such, may have an application for screening those populations at high risk of oral cancer--provided that adequate tuition is given in smear technique.