Role of Ancillary Techniques in Gynecologic Cytopathology Specimens

Acta Cytol. 2020;64(1-2):63-70. doi: 10.1159/000496569. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Abstract

The association between high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) and cervical cancer is well established. As hr-HPV testing is rapidly becoming a part of routine cervical cancer screening, either in conjunction with cytology or as primary testing, the management of hr-HPV-positive women has to be tailored in a way that increases the detection of cervical abnormalities while decreasing unnecessary colposcopic biopsies or other invasive procedures. In this review, we discuss the overall utility and strategies of hr-HPV testing, as well as the advantages and limitations of potential triage strategies for hr-HPV-positive women, including HPV genotyping, p16/Ki-67 dual staining, and methylation assays.

Keywords: Cervical screening; Dual staining; Genotyping; High-risk human papillomavirus; Methylation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cytodiagnosis / methods*
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics*
  • Papillomaviridae / physiology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / complications
  • Papillomavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Triage
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / complications
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis*