Terms without borders: An international approach to terminology

Abstract

This article describes the similarities between different terminological systems for reporting the spectrum of abnormalities that comprise pre-cancerous, malignant and equivocal cellular changes in epithelial cells of the uterine cervix. In particular, the new terminology proposed by the British Society for Clinical Cytology (BSCC) is closely aligned with the Bethesda system (TBS) as modified in 2001. Both make a clear distinction between high-grade and low-grade intraepithelial abnormalities and identify certain categories of atypical or borderline changes that are suspicious for high-grade abnormalities.