[False negative PAP test? Cytopathologist as a member of expert group in case of late diagnosis of cervical cancer].

TLDR: Arguments for adoption of expert review of histologic slides and Papanicolaou tests in the context of litigation or potential litigation by the Czech Society of Pathologists and their implementation into the National Program of Cervical Cancer Screening are presented.

Abstract: The Pap test represents a potent tool in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer, though it is unable to eradicate it totally. Under standardized application it has a (very low) failure rate unexpected by the public. In relation to the National screening program of cervical carcinoma an increase in number of litigation cases is to be expected started by women who took part in the screening program and still developed cervical cancer. Together with the international guidelines of Pap test administration and evaluation (Bethesda 2001), widely adopted guidelines for Expert review of histologic slides and Papanicolaou tests in the context of litigation or potential litigation have been formulated (College of American Pathologists 20001). Arguments for adoption of these guidelines by the Czech Society of Pathologists and their implementation into the National Program of Cervical Cancer Screening are presented.