TY - JOUR
T1 - Intralaboratory reproducibility of cervical cytology diagnoses in the external quality assurance scheme of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy
AU - Sama, Donatella
AU - Cotignoli, Tullia
AU - Guerrini, Laura
AU - Maioli, Patrizia
AU - Sintoni, Catia
AU - Bucchi, Lauro
PY - 1996/3
Y1 - 1996/3
N2 - In an external quality assurance (EQA) scheme, 110 selected cervical smears were independently reported by seven cytology laboratories using the 1988 Bethesda System. In one of these, a random sample of 60 study smears was independently classified by five cytologists before undergoing joint examination according to EQA protocol. Internal agreement (i.e., among these cytologists) was compared with external agreement (between these cytologists and the other six laboratories) and with interlaboratory agreement (among these laboratories). The κ value for internal agreement on sample adequacy (0.57) was considerably greater than those for external (0.16) and interlaboratory agreement (0.10). For interpretation of epithelial abnormalities, internal κ was excellent (0.80) but not substantially greater compared with external κ (0.66) and interlaboratory κ (0.70). Calculation of class-specific κ values revealed (a) that superiority of internal agreement on sample adequacy was restricted to the notations of 'less than optimal' and of 'satisfactory,' and (b) that internal increase in agreement on cytologic abnormalities was substantial for the diagnosis of 'atypical cells of undetermined significance.'
AB - In an external quality assurance (EQA) scheme, 110 selected cervical smears were independently reported by seven cytology laboratories using the 1988 Bethesda System. In one of these, a random sample of 60 study smears was independently classified by five cytologists before undergoing joint examination according to EQA protocol. Internal agreement (i.e., among these cytologists) was compared with external agreement (between these cytologists and the other six laboratories) and with interlaboratory agreement (among these laboratories). The κ value for internal agreement on sample adequacy (0.57) was considerably greater than those for external (0.16) and interlaboratory agreement (0.10). For interpretation of epithelial abnormalities, internal κ was excellent (0.80) but not substantially greater compared with external κ (0.66) and interlaboratory κ (0.70). Calculation of class-specific κ values revealed (a) that superiority of internal agreement on sample adequacy was restricted to the notations of 'less than optimal' and of 'satisfactory,' and (b) that internal increase in agreement on cytologic abnormalities was substantial for the diagnosis of 'atypical cells of undetermined significance.'
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U2 - 10.1006/gyno.1996.0063
DO - 10.1006/gyno.1996.0063
M3 - Article
C2 - 8774647
AN - SCOPUS:0029921748
VL - 60
SP - 404
EP - 408
JO - Gynecologic Oncology
JF - Gynecologic Oncology
SN - 0090-8258
IS - 3
ER -