[Computer-assisted rescreening of cervicovaginal smears stained by the Papanicolaou method. Evaluation of the PAPNET system apropos of 225 cases].

The risk of false-negative smears is currently the main criticism of conventional cytological diagnosis of cervical cancer. None of the palliative methods (rescreening of a certain number of smears, external and internal laboratory controls, screener's training, European recommendations for Quality Assurance ...) are completely accurate. This explains the attempt to use automated screening of smears. The PAPNET screening system which allows recognition of possibly abnormal smears appears to be sufficiently effective. In this study, the authors report their personal experience based on a series of 225 cases. Moreover, when used wisely, this system may represent a useful teaching tool as well as a means of cytopathology Quality Assurance.