Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance qualified: A follow-up study

✍ Scribed by Michael J. Kline; Diane D. Davey

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 498 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 8755-1039
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199605)14:4<380::aid-dc18>3.0.co;2-g

✦ Synopsis

The Bethesda System recommends that the diagnosis of "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance" (ASCUS) be qualified when possible to indicate whether a reactive process, or a squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), is favored. In order to evaluate the utility of this recommendation, 308 cervicovaginalsmears diagnosed as ASCUS favoring a reactive ( F R ) or dysplastic (FD) process were identij7ed. Concurrent or follow-up biopsies and cervicovaginal smear results were reviewed and compared to the follow-up of 103 cervicovaginal smears diagnosed as ASCUS without qualiJication.

A follow-up diagnosis of SIL was found in 46.5%, 29.5%, and 26.2% of the ASCUS FD, ASCUS FR, and ASCUS unqualified cases, respectively. A repeated ASCUS diagnosis was found in 20.4%. 21.8%, and 18.4% of the ASCUS FD, ASCUS FR, and ASCUS unqualij7ed cases, respectively. Follow-up of each group was negative for dysplasia in 30.0%, 48.7%, and 54.4% of the ASCUS FD, ASCUS FR, and ASCUS unquali$ed cases, respectively.

These results support the use oj'an ASCUS FD category for the increased detection of patients with dysplasia. The ASCUS FR category was not helpful in our laboratory. Follow-up studies of qualified ASCUS cases in individual practice settings may be useful in guidingpatient management.