http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/564080


The ASC/SIL Ratio for Cytopathologists as a Quality Control Measure: A
Follow-up Study
Posted 10/26/2007

Alessandra F. Nascimento, MD; Edmund S. Cibas, MD


Monitoring the relative frequency of the interpretations of atypical
squamous cells (ASC) and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) has been
proposed as a quality control measure. To assess its value, an ASC/SIL ratio
was calculated every 6 months for 3.5 years, and confidential feedback was
provided to 10 cytopathologists (CPs). By using simple regression analysis,
we analyzed the initial and final ASC/SIL ratios for individual CPs and for
the entire group. The ratio was below the upper benchmark of 3:1 for all but
1 CP during every 6-month period. The ratio for all CPs combined showed a
downward trend (from 2.05 to 1.73). The ratio for 6 CPs decreased, and for
two of them the decrease was statistically significant. One CP showed a
statistically significant increase in the ASC/SIL ratio. The decrease for
some CPs likely reflects the salutary effect of confidential feedback and
counseling.