Comparative study of squamous intraepithelial lesion detection and unsatisfactory rates between liquid-based cytology and conventional smears from a split sample in cervical cancer screening: A Japanese experience

In this study, we analyzed the detection rates of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) using BD SurePathTM liquid-based cytology (LBC) and conventional cytology with Cervex-Brush® performed for cervical cancer screening. The split-sample procedure involved direct sampling and spreading with Cervex-Brush®, followed by the collection of the brush tip in a BD SurePathTM vial and BD SurePathTM specimen preparation. SIL detection rates were investigated in two groups: conventional cytology and LBC performed using the split-sample procedure. Split samples were collected from 2,025 women. A SIL was detected in 63 women (3.1%) by conventional cytology [33 cases, low-grade (LSIL); 30 cases, high-grade (HSIL)] and 69 women (3.4%) by BD SurePathTM LBC (37, LSIL; 32, HSIL). The unsatisfactory rate was significantly higher in the conventional cytology than in the BD SurePathTM LBC (p < 0.001). The unsatisfactory rate for BD SurePathTM LBC was 0%. The LBC platform is a standardized LBC system with improved HSIL detection rates and a lower unsatisfactory rate, and is very useful in cervical cancer screening conducted during health check-ups.