Prevalencia del resultado de citología de células escamosas atípicas que no excluye lesión intraepitelial de alto grado (ASC-H), en dos instituciones de Bogotá (Colombia), 2006-2013

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the finding of atypical squamous cells cannot  exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H) in two pathology centres, and to determine the prevalence among those cytology findings of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) on biopsy. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study including all patients undergoing cytology in two colposcopy centres in Bogota, one in a public hospital and the other in a private centre, during the period between 2006 and 2013. ASC-H cytology results were identified in a sample of consecutive cases, and the assessment included the social and demographic characteristics of the patients and the colposcopy and biopsy results. The analysis focuses on the prevalence of the ASC-H result and of the HSIL result on histopathology. Results: Overall, 357 ASC-H cytology results were identified out of 23,960 abnormal cytology findings, leading to an estimated prevalence of 1.49% (95% CI, 1.34-1.64). Histopathology was required in 230 cases (65%) and the prevalence among them of HSIL was 26.5%. Conclusions: The results of this study showed a prevalence of 1.49% for ASC-H. Given that an important number of patients have a high-grade intraepithelial lesion, colposcopy-guided biopsy is recommended in patients with this result.