J Pathol Transl Med.  2022 Nov;56(6):361-369. 10.4132/jptm.2022.09.21.

Current status of cytopathology practice in Korea: impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cytopathology practice

• Hong SA
• Jung H
• Kim SS
• Jin MS
• Pyo JS
• Jeong JY
• Choi Y
• Gong G
• Chong Y
• The Committee of Quality Improvement of Korean Society for Cytopathology

• KMID: 2535856
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2022.09.21

Abstract

Background
The Continuous Quality Improvement program for cytopathology in 2020 was completed during the coronavirus pandemic. In this study, we report the result of the quality improvement program.
Methods
Data related to cytopathology practice from each institute were collected and processed at the web-based portal. The proficiency test was conducted using glass slides and whole-slide images (WSIs). Evaluation of the adequacy of gynecology (GYN) slides from each institution and submission of case glass slides and WSIs for the next quality improvement program were performed.
Results
A total of 214 institutions participated in the annual cytopathology survey in 2020. The number of entire cytopathology specimens was 8,220,650, a reduction of 19.0% from the 10,111,755 specimens evaluated in 2019. Notably, the number of respiratory cytopathology specimens, including sputum and bronchial washing/ brushing significantly decreased by 86.9% from 2019, which could be attributed to the global pandemic of coronavirus disease. The ratio of cases with atypical squamous cells to squamous intraepithelial lesions was 4.10. All participating institutions passed the proficiency test and the evaluation of adequacy of GYN slides.
Conclusions
Through the Continuous Quality Improvement program, the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, manifesting with a reduction in the number of cytologic examinations, especially in respiratory-related specimen has been identified. The Continuous Quality Improvement Program of the Korean Society for Cytopathology can serve as the gold standard to evaluate the current status of cytopathology practice in Korea.

Keyword

Cytology; Surveys; Statistics; Quality; Coronavirus; Pandemic

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Quality Improvement program by the Committee of Quality Improvement of the Korean Society for Cytopathology.

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  Fig. 2. Proficiency test using whole-slide image via web site.

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  Fig. 3. Overall statistics of cytopathology exams from 2007 to 2020. GYN, gynecologic.

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  Fig. 4. (A) The number of non-gynecologic (non-GYN) samples, according to the type of sample. (B) The number of non-GYN body fluid, according to the type of sample.

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  Fig. 5. The number of non-gynecologic samples in 2019 and 2020. Non-GYN, non-gynecologic samples.

Reference

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