Clinicopathological features of atypical glandular cells, not otherwise specified, on cervicovaginal pap smears

Abstract

Objective:The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is a standard screening test that detects cervical lesions and cancers. In this multicentric study, we performed a retrospective analysis of cytological results associated with atypical glandular cells, not otherwise specified (AGC-NOS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed Pap smear tests that resulted as AGC-NOS. A total of 254 women who underwent colposcopy due to a Pap smear result of AGC-NOS were included the study between 2003 and 2021. The ages, Pap smear results, HPV results if any, colposcopic biopsy results, endocervical and endometrial pathology results, and management of these patients were analysed. Results: Two hundred fifty-four patients with AGC-NOS Pap smear results were included in the study. A total of 70 (27.6%) patients had cervical and endometrial premalignant or malignant lesions. Malignancy was observed in 17 (6.7%) patients (endometrium, n = 11 [4.3%]; cervix, n = 6 [2.4%]). Isolated premalignant or malignant lesions of the cervix and endometrium were detected in 57 (22.4%) and 12 (4.7%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with AGC-NOS should undergo a careful evaluation with all clinicopathological features. Because cancer of the cervix and endometrium is not rare in patients diagnosed with AGC-NOS, colposcopic examination with endocervical sampling should be a priority based on a cervicovaginal smear. Endometrial sampling is also required according to the patient's clinic, age, and examination characteristics.

Correlation between high‐risk HPV infection and p16/Ki‐67 abnormalities in Pap samples in a South Eastern Europe cohort

“…Nearly 10% of cases (7886 cases) showed abnormal cytology results, as follows: 4.9% HSIL (high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion), 33.4% LSIL (low‐grade SIL), 55.9% ASC‐US (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), and 5.1% ASC‐H (atypical squamous cells‐H). Moreover, 0.04% revealed squamous cell carcinoma and 0.67% revealed atypical glandular cells not otherwise specified, 15 that could be an indicative for either benign, or malignant lesions (not shown in Figure 2). Beside these results, in 15% of total cases were identified several modifications suggestive for infections with Candida , Actinomyces , HSV (herpes simplex virus), CMV (Cytomegalovirus), and Trichomonas vaginalis , which may be contributing to the development of the observed abnormalities.…”