What are the five categories of Pap smear abnormalities?
There are five main categories of abnormal Pap smear results within the Bethesda system:
- Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US).
- Squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL).
- Atypical squamous cells that may or may not be HSIL (ASC-H).
- Atypical glandular cells (AGC).
- Cancer.
What are abnormal findings in Pap smear?
Abnormal Pap test results: An abnormal test result may also be called a positive test result. An abnormal test result does not mean you have cervical cancer. Possible abnormal findings on a Pap test include ASC-US, AGC, LSIL, ASC-H, HSIL, AIS, or cervical cancer.
How do you read a Pap report?
A Pap test result can be normal, unclear, or abnormal.
- Normal. A normal (or “negative”) result means that no cell changes were found on your cervix.
- Unclear (ASC-US) It is common for test results to come back unclear.
- Abnormal. An abnormal result means that cell changes were found on your cervix.
- Negative.
- Positive.
What is the most common abnormal Pap result?
ASC-US is the most common abnormal Pap test result. ASC-US stands for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. “Squamous” refers to the type of cells that make up the tissue that covers the cervix. LSIL—This means that the cervical cells show changes that are mildly abnormal.
What is treatment for abnormal Pap smear?
If there are moderate to severe changes in your cervix, your doctor may want to remove the cervical tissue. Typically, your doctor will use the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), or perform a cold knife cone biopsy as a minor surgical procedure.
How common are abnormal cells in Pap smears?
About 5% of all Pap tests will be abnormal, meaning that the sample contains atypical cervical cells. However, the majority of these cells are not cancerous or even precancerous.
What if Pap smear is positive?
If the results of your Pap test come back positive, that means your doctor found abnormal or unusual cells on your cervix. It doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer. Most often, the abnormal test result means there have been cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Can Pap smear detect infection?
The STIs that can be diagnosed by Pap smear are trichomoniasis, HPV infection, herpes genitalis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.
What are the normal results of a Pap smear?
A normal Pap smear shows healthy squamous cells (flat cells that look like fish scales) from the surface of the cervix. There are no signs of infection and no abnormal cells. Even if your Pap results are healthy, you should be tested regularly.
Should I be worried about abnormal Pap smear?
It’s important to follow through with any recommended testing after your abnormal pap smear, especially because it could prevent cancer. Many abnormal results derive from human papillomavirus. Typically referred to as HPV, it’s the most common sexually-transmitted infection and raises your risk for cervical cancer.
Should I worry about abnormal Pap?
Most abnormal Pap smear results are nothing to worry about
Most women will have at least one abnormal Pap smear result in their lifetime, with an overall average of 5% of all Pap tests coming back as “abnormal.” In most cases, the abnormal result is nothing to worry about, but it’s important to follow up to make sure.
What is the next step after an abnormal Pap smear?
“I Received an Abnormal Pap Test. What’s Next?” Your next step is usually a minor procedure called a colposcopy. This procedure is a visual examination of the cervix using a low-powered microscope used to find and then biopsy abnormal areas in your cervix that may lead to cervical cancer.
How common is abnormal Pap smear?
About 5% of all Pap tests will be abnormal, meaning that the sample contains atypical cervical cells. However, the majority of these cells are not cancerous or even precancerous. An abnormal Pap test result does not mean cancer, but it does require follow-up to rule out the possibility of cancer.
Can a Pap smear detect yeast infection?
Will my Pap smear diagnose a vaginal infection? Although your annual Pap smear is a very important test, it is not typically used as a test for vaginitis. How can my doctor tell if I have an infection? The tests for vaginitis are simple and can be done right in your doctor’s office.
How serious is an abnormal Pap smear?
Most of the abnormal cells found during a Pap test are the result of a cervical or vaginal infection and are not cancerous. Abnormal Pap tests are very common. In fact, of the 3 million women with abnormal Pap tests each year, less than 1% (13,240 cases) will be diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Should you worry about an abnormal Pap smear?