The Bethesda System 2001: an update of new terminology for gynecologic cytology

Since the inception of The Bethesda System (TBS) in 1988, it has been well received by both the pathology and clinical communities. By 1994, almost 90% of laboratories were using TBS. One of the leading reasons for the popularity of TBS is the sound and thoughtful basis for all of its elements, including diagnostic categories that incorporate the latest scientific information on the pathogenesis and prognosis of cervical lesions. In order to update TBS, an international workshop, sponsored by the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Center, convened in April 2001. This article presents the results of this comprehensive review of TBS.