“Cancer Uterine Cervix & The Bethesda System” is a multi author book which discusses Cervical Cancer in its entirety. When the work of this book began almost seven years back, the plan was to put together a practical compact format of a handbook of cervical cytology which would be useful in the diagnostic work at the microscope.
The aim was to focus mainly on the description of lesions, along with carefully selected illustrations, that a cytopathologist was likely to need in routine practice. As the contents progressed, there was an irresistible incentive to cover along with cytology, descriptions of histopathologic findings too. Having quick and easy reference material of histopathologic basis of cytology would be a very logical content of any handbook. This inevitably led to an expansion of text and illustrations to include method of collection of Pap smear and screening technologies for cervical cancer with helpful feature of algorithms clearly intended to lead the way to standard follow up of women screened. Basics of Colposcopic findings in precancerous lesions of the cervix, that have bearing in the completion of the knowledge and workup of patients, have also been incorporated.
As a result, the hand book has taken on the presentation of a textbook while still retaining the configuration of an Atlas because of its innumerable illustrations that have resulted in worthwhile increased coverage and usefulness New trends in the practice of gynecologic cytology have emerged. Therefore, a chapter of ancillary techniques, in particular immunocytochemistry using the LBC smears was added. We have tried to satisfy the needs of the cytotechnicians within the set framework and format of any handbook by adding the chapters on laboratory aspects that describe automation of cervical cytology and method of Papanicolaou staining and its nuances. This will ensure a wider range of receivers of this book like the cytotechnologists and pathologists in general. For this reason alone, it deserves a place in the long history of development of meaningful cytopathologic literature in the field of cervical cancer.
