Histopathological Diagnosis of Cervical Biopsies: Reduction of Sampling Errors with the Evaluation of a Third Histologic Level

AIM: Cervical cancer (CC) is considered as a major public health problem; this disease affects mainly vulnerable women in poverty, causing a negative effect on a country’s workforce. OBJECTIVE: To determine the histopathological diagnosis variation after examining three more levels of cervical biopsy paraffin blocks from patients with HPVI, CIN and CC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative, retrospective correlational study was performed in a hospital with a second level of health care. We worked with 152 paraffin blocks of CIN (CIN, I, II and III) and cervical cancer samples. Currently, CIN I is considered as a set of low-grade injuries (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, LSIL), while CIN II, CIN III and cancer in situ are considered as high-grade lesions (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, HSIL). A slab was prepared with the 50micron block, which was subsequently cut into 5 microns; later, the same thing was done at two more levels to reevaluate the histopathological diagnosis and correlate it with the initial diagnosis issued by the institution. RESULTS: During the examination of the additional block levels, a difference was observed from the initial diagnosis: of 32 cases of HPV diagnosis, there were 17 changes to CIN I; of 31 cases of CIN I, there were 4 changes to CIN II; of 30 cases of CIN II, there were 8 changes to CIN III and 1 change to invasive cancer; of 29 cases of CIN III, there were 9 changes to cancer in situ; and finally, of 14 cases of cancer in situ, there was 1 change to invasive cancer. After the statistical analysis, a value of p <0.05 was obtained, which indicated that the differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: By modifying the histopathological study technique, guidelines can be given to generate a more accurate diagnosis with a more solid base, and thus, a more appropriate and timely treatment can be offered to avoid the development of cervical cancer.