In 2001, the Bethesda System was developed and is now widely used for classification of pap smears, according to the American Social Health Association. This system groups types of abnormal paps together and makes it easier for clinicians to know what kind of cell changes are occurring and helps to guide treatment.
ASCUS
ASCUS stands for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and generally means that the cells look somewhat normal but also abnormal; they are borderline abnormal. These changes are generally not caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that can cause cervical cancer, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. ASCUS paps can be caused by vaginal infections or yeast infections, and your doctor will likely follow-up with a repeat pap smear or HPV testing.
ASC-H
This classification stands for atypical squamous cells--cannot exclude HSIL, according to the American Social Health Association. This group includes pap smears that include many borderline cells, but the pathologist cannot exclude high- grade precancerous lesions. Upon this diagnosis, your doctor will likely want to do a colposcopy, which allows her to take a closer look at your cervix and a small biopsy if necessary to look at cervical tissue, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
LSIL and HSIL
This group of pap smears was previously classified as mild, moderate and severe dysplasia or CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), according to ASHA. LSIL includes low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and HSIL encompasses high-grade squamous intrapeithelial lesions, according to ASHA. These changes are generally related to HPV infection, and if your pap smear is classified as either of these, your doctor will most likely want to do a colposcopy to look more closely at these precancerous changes and determine treatment if necessary.
AGC
AGC stands for abnormal glandular cells, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Glandular cells are found in your cervix or uterus and produce mucus. This classification means some of these cells are abnormal but the reason is not clear. Women with AGC are at higher risk for cervical cancer, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, and if your pap comes back AGC, your doctor will probably want to do a colposcopy and biopsy to further examine any abnormal cells and tissue.
