Bethesda System
15.2.3 Bethesda System
The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology, dating to 1988, is a standardized, systematic means of reporting Papanicolaou test results.14 Resources are the published handbook (the “blue book”)14 and the website (http://www.cytopathology.org/NIH).15
Expand the following abbreviations at first mention. Punctuate as shown:
Expansion |
Abbreviation |
|---|---|
adenocarcinoma in situ of endocervix |
AIS |
American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology |
ASCCP |
American Society of Cytopathology |
ASC |
ASCUS/LSIL Triage Study |
ALTS |
atypical glandular cells |
AGCs |
atypical squamous cells |
ASCs |
atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion |
ASC-H |
atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance |
ASC-US |
Bethesda Interobserver Reproducibility Project |
BIRP |
carcinoma in situ |
CIS |
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia |
CIN |
conventional preparation |
CP |
endocervical/transformation zone |
EC/TZ |
high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion |
HSIL |
human papillomavirus |
HPV |
intrauterine device or intrauterine contraceptive device |
IUD |
liquid-based preparation |
LBP |
loop electrosurgical excision procedure |
LEEP |
last menstrual period |
LMP |
lower uterine segment |
LUS |
low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion |
LSIL |
malignant mixed mesodermal tumor |
MMMT |
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland |
NCI |
negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy |
NILM |
not otherwise specified |
NOS |
nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio |
N:C |
small cell undifferentiated carcinoma |
SCUC |
squamous intraepithelial lesion |
SIL |
the Bethesda System |
TBS |
transitional cell carcinoma |
TCC |
transformation zone |
T zone |
vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia |
VAIN |
In the following examples, unexpanded abbreviations are assumed to have been previously defined in the text:
Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) have been described as a benign cytologic consequence of active human papillomavirus (HPV) replication. Several studies have reported that certain behavioral and biological risks exist for LSIL, suggesting that HPV alone is not sufficient for the development of LSIL.
AIS (CP)
ASC-H (CP)
exfoliated endometrial cells (liquid-based preparation [LBP])
atrophy (LBP)
glandular cells post hysterectomy (CP)
Grades are expressed as follows:
CIN 1, CIN 2, CIN 3
VAIN 1, VAIN 2, VAIN 3