Automation in cytopathology.

Machine-aided screening of cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) smears is being pursued in response to a cytotechnologist shortage and a perception that computer-aided screening may improve human screening. Several different commercial efforts are underway to automate either the processing of cervical specimens or the screening of Pap smears and nongynecologic specimens. The technical approaches used by these manufacturers are varied and include traditional algorithmic computers, expert systems, and neural networks, alone or in combination. Alternatives to cell smears on glass slides are also being studied, in which monolayer cell preparations facilitate the analysis of the cells. It is not possible to suggest what approach to automation in cytology is preferred at this time. Preliminary studies of different systems suggest several of them may have sensitivity to detect intraepithelial abnormalities in excess of 95%. It is likely that these technologies will significantly aid the analysis of cytologic specimens.