ASCCP Patient Management Guidelines * Pap Test Specimen Adequacy and Quality Indicators Methods

A b s t r a c t Our objective was to provide management guidelines according to Papanicolaou (Pap) The Bethesda 2001 terminology for reporting results of cervical cytology made substantial changes in specimen adequacy terminology and categorization. As a result, Bethesda conference participants were concerned that the changes might lead to confusion concerning optimal patient management according to specimen adequacy. Even before Bethesda 2001 terminology changes, there was no consensus regarding the timing of screening in women whose Papanicolaou (Pap) tests lacked a transformation zone component or exhibited partially obscuring factors. An extensive management guideline addressing all specimen adequacy concerns did not exist. The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) agreed to address these concerns by convening a task force to establish Pap specimen adequacy management guidelines. Methods A brief presentation and discussions regarding Pap specimen adequacy and management occurred at the ASCCP Consensus Conference for the Management of Cytological Abnormalities and Cervical Cancer Precursors, September 6-8, 2001. However, this topic was not introduced in time to reach consensus during the September meeting. A task force comprised of Bethesda 2001 forum group members and ASCCP members met by several conference calls after this September meeting. The guidelines developed were based on literature review and expert opinion of task force members. Draft guidelines were submitted to the ASCCP Steering Committee and other experts for review and additional modifications