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Background To compare lung cancer detection rate by sputum cytology, we need some assurance that the estimates do not vary widely if different observers evaluate the same specimens. The aim of this study was to determine inter-rater agreement of sputum cytology diagnoses. Methods Slides of sputum cytology from 150 subjects were selected from a pool of slides held by six of the laboratories that had participated in a population-based lung cancer screening program over the last ten years in Japan. The cytotechnologists in these laboratories had considerable experience with sputum cytology. Each case was re-evaluated six times. Cases that were diagnosed as the same category by all six laboratories were selected as consensus cases to serve as standardized sputum cytology cases. Thirty-seven cytotechnologists with various levels of experience in sputum cytology then re-evaluated these consensus cases. Inter-rater agreement was calculated by kappa statistics including Fleiss' kappa. Results All pairs of interlaboratory agreement for the 150 cases showed statistically significant kappa values, most pairs showing substantial agreement. Fleiss' kappa value across the six laboratories was 0.5. Fourteen cases were identified as the consensus cases, and the agreement among observers with less experience of sputum cytology showed significantly lower than the agreement among those with considerable experience (Fleiss' kappa value 0.27 vs. 0.45, P

In wound care, close observation of the quantity and nature of exudate from a wound, and selection of appropriate dressing and/or medication are crucial. Care should be taken to prevent wounds with excessive exudate from becoming too moist. Furthermore, wound care at home must be easy, which is achievable through the use of readily available materials and medications. 1 ) A wound with little to moderate exudate should be treated using wrap therapy with perforated polyethylene sheets. This therapy can be used to treat pressure ulcers, wounds, wounds with slough, and burns. 2 ) An 18-gauge needle can be used to perforate wounds with little exudate, such as mild pressure ulcers or wounds with slough, and polyurethane film can then be applied. 3 ) Polyurethane film should be applied to blisters, pressure ulcers, or similar skin injuries with little exudate. 4 ) A hydrocolloid dressing should be used on wounds with light exudate. 5 ) An ointment containing steroids should be applied to critically colonized wounds. 6 ) Melolin dressings, Moiskin Pads, or a disposable diaper should be used to manage wounds with heavy exudate.

目的:下咽頭癌は早期に特異的な症状が発現しにくいため, 確定診断時に進行癌であることが多く早期発見が望まれている.早期下咽頭扁平上皮癌発見における喀痰細胞診の有用性の評価を目的とし, その細胞像について検討した.対象と方法:平成5-15年度の喀痰集検受診者11万237人からの発見癌201例のうち, 下咽頭扁平上皮癌が確定診断された8例を対象とした.同症例の蓄痰標本に出現した中等度異型以上の異型扁平上皮細胞, および扁平上皮癌細胞について細胞学的検討を行った.成績:発見された下咽頭癌の病期は, I期: 3例, III・IV期: 5例であった.喀痰中の異型上皮細胞および癌細胞数は, I期: 50.8個, III期: 333.3個, IV期: 427.4個で, I期癌では進行期癌と比較し有意に少数であった (P

To compare lung cancer detection rate by sputum cytology, we need some assurance that the estimates do not vary widely if different observers evaluate the same specimens. The aim of this study was to determine inter-rater agreement of sputum cytology diagnoses.Slides of sputum cytology from 150 subjects were selected from a pool of slides held by six of the laboratories that had participated in a population-based lung cancer screening program over the last ten years in Japan. The cytotechnologists in these laboratories had considerable experience with sputum cytology. Each case was re-evaluated six times. Cases that were diagnosed as the same category by all six laboratories were selected as consensus cases to serve as standardized sputum cytology cases. Thirty-seven cytotechnologists with various levels of experience in sputum cytology then re-evaluated these consensus cases. Inter-rater agreement was calculated by kappa statistics including Fleiss' kappa.All pairs of interlaboratory agreement for the 150 cases showed statistically significant kappa values, most pairs showing substantial agreement. Fleiss' kappa value across the six laboratories was 0.5. Fourteen cases were identified as the consensus cases, and the agreement among observers with less experience of sputum cytology showed significantly lower than the agreement among those with considerable experience (Fleiss' kappa value 0.27 vs. 0.45, P0.05). Moreover, cytotechnologists with less experience under-diagnosed the slides significantly more often than those with considerable experience.When the observers have considerable experience with sputum cytology, inter-observer agreement is good.

Lung cancer is a global epidemic and the number one cause of death among all cancers, with a very high morbidity. A new strategy for the treatment of lung cancer is the detection and eradication of pre-invasive bronchial lesions before they become invasive carcinomas. We conducted a detailed investigation into the use of fluorescence bronchoscopy in the detection of pre-invasive bronchial lesions in patients with sputum cytology suspicious or positive for malignancy. We also studied the distinctive cytological findings in the sputum specimens corresponding to the pre-invasive bronchial lesions. Sputum examinations were performed by mass screening a high-risk group of participants. From 1997 to 1999, 61 participants with sputum cytology suspicious or positive for malignancy were referred to our institute, and were examined with both white-light and fluorescence bronchoscopy. For the cytological findings, the collection of sputum was performed in the early morning. Conventional white-light examinations were first performed, and areas with abnormal findings were recorded for subsequent biopsy. Fluorescence bronchoscopy examinations were then carried out. Biopsy specimens for a pathological examination were taken from all the suspicious or abnormal areas discovered by the white-light bronchoscopy, or fluorescence bronchoscopy examination, or both. The laser-induced fluorescence bronchoscopic examination showed a high sensitivity for invasive carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, as well as severe, moderate, and mild dysplasia. In the sputum cytological findings, a thickened cytoplasm and slight hyperchromasia were frequently observed in the mild dysplasias compared with the squamous cells without atypia. Hyperchromasia and an Orange G (OG)-philic cytoplasm of squamous cells were frequently observed in the moderate compared with the mild dysplasias. A thickened cytoplasm, a nuclear pleomorphism, a thickened nuclear rim, a coarse chromatin, an uneven chromatin distribution, and an OG-philic cytoplasm were frequently observed in the carcinomas in situ and severe dysplasias compared with the moderate dysplasias. We found that the use of fluorescence bronchoscopy in addition to conventional white-light examination can enhance the detection and localization of pre-invasive bronchial lesions in patients with sputum cytology suspicious or positive for malignancy. Sputum cytology is therefore a potential approach to diagnosing pre-invasive bronchial lesions.