Pap smears diagnose early changes in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, that may lead to cervical cancer, a disease that kills approximately 7,500 women each year, according to the Louisiana State University Health System. A painless, simple test performed in a medical practitioner's office, a Pap smear involves scraping cells from the surface of the cervix and examining them under a microscope for signs of cancerous or precancerous changes. The Bethesda classification of cervical changes adopted in 2001 describes them as low or high grade, with high-grade classification designated for specimens with cell changes more likely to be or become cancerous.
HSIL
Some abnormal cells are classified as HSIL, which stands for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Squamous cells are the cells that form the lining of the cervix. Dysplasia is another term for these abnormal cells. Pap smears graded as HSIL develop into cervical cancer in approximately two-thirds of cases if untreated, according to the Women's Cancer Center. HSIL is further differentiated as moderate or severe. In previous designations, moderate HSIL was called CIN 2 and severe HSIL was CIN 3. CIN stands for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Carcinoma in Situ
Carcinoma in situ, the most severe form of HSIL, is most likely to develop into cancer, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Despite its name, carcinoma in situ, previously called CIN 3, is not cancer. The abnormal cells of carcinoma in situ are found only in the skin, Dr. William Parke states on his website, a Gynecologist's Second Opinion. Carcinoma in situ may also be called high-grade dysplasia.
AGC-H
AGC stands for atypical glandular cells. Glandular cells produce mucus in the cervix or in the lining of the uterus. A Pap smear designation of AGC-H means that abnormal cells found in a pap smear may indicate neoplasia, or cancer.
Squamous Cell Cancer or Adenocarcinoma
If cells are extremely abnormal and the pathologist reading the Pap smear slide is almost certain that the cells represent cancer, he will designate the results as squamous cell cancer or adencarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma grows from the glandular cells.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Pap Test
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Understanding Pap Smear Results
- Louisiana State University Health System: Optimizing the Papanicolaou Smear
- Women's Cancer Center: Cervical Cancer
- A Gynecologist's Second Opinion: Abnormal Pap Smears; William Parker, M.D.
