ASCUS Pap Smear
ASCUS pap smear may be a cause of concern for some patients, but in majority of cases it does not mean a serious problem. Pap smear is a test that helps to find unusual cellular changes in the cervical tissue. Pap smear includes taking a sample of cells from the cervix, using a special swab, and examining this sample under the microscope for different abnormalities. Obtained cervical cells are analyzed by a specialist in cervical pathology which prepares a report of the examination in conformity with one of the accepted Pap smear classification systems.
Today, one of the commonly used systems for reporting cervical cytology is the Bethesda system. According to this system, the results provided by the cytological examination of cervical cells are divided into the following categories: normal Pap smear, benign changes, reactive cellular changes associated with inflammation, ASCUS Pap smear, AGUS Pap smear, LGSIL, HGLSIL, and carcinoma. These terms are not always clear for women, but they really help health care providers to choose an appropriate management for the patients.
The term ASCUS means Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance. If a woman gets ASCUS Pap smear, it signifies that the cytological analysis showed the presence of some changes in the cells, but it is unclear which disease these changes are associated with. This result means that examined cervical cells do not look quite normal, but there are no obvious signs of a pathology. Result ASCUS suggests it was difficult to identify the nature of changes in the collected cells.
The reasons for ASCUS Pap smear may vary. ASCUS may occur if the woman had had sexual intercourse or used vaginally some medications within two days before the test. Sometimes ASCUS is associated with an inflammatory process caused by bacteria or viruses. It is also possible that the presence of atypical cells is related to the early development of precancerous lesions on the cervix. It should be noted that the majority of ASCUS Pap smears revert to normal within several months.
Most women with ASCUS Pap smear do not need treatment since this condition is not very dangerous. Usually women with ASCUS result undergo regular check-ups to monitor the state of cervical tissues. In about 80% of cases ASCUS Pap smear returns to normal in a few months; however, if repeated Pap smears come back with ASCUS result, the patient should have a colposcopical examination and an HPV test which allow to assess the risk of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer.
