Pap Smear Result
Pap smear result describes the state of the cervical tissue on basis of the data provided by cytological analysis. Pap smear means the collection of cervical epithelial cells and their examination under the microscope in the lab. This test is commonly used by gynecologists because it is a relatively simple and inexpensive tool that helps to assess the condition of the cervix. Pap smear is an important test to discover precancerous diseases of the cervix and it is of a great importance for cervical cancer prevention.
Pap smear result is qualified as normal (negative) when the size and shape of all cells are normal. The result of Pap smear is considered to be abnormal (positive) when some deviations from normal size and shape have been found in the cervical cells. Health care providers use special terms to describe the degree of cells abnormality: inflammatory cells, low grade intraepithelial lesions, high grade intraepithelial lesions, preinvasive or invasive carcinoma (cancer). If pap smear result is abnormal, it does not always indicate the presence of cancerous cells.
Cervical epithelial cells may have signs of inflammation and look abnormal if a bacterial infection is present. In most cases Pap smear results revert to normal after an appropriate therapy for such infections. Pap smear result is frequently abnormal in women with cervical human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. This infection is the most common cause of cellular changes, known as dysplasia, that can lead to invasive carcinoma (cancer) within several years. HPV-positive women are estimated to be at an increased risk for cancer of the cervix.
If pap smear result indicates the presence of malignant cells, it may be suggestive of a life-threatening condition for the patient. In case malignant cells are found only in the epithelial layer of the cervix, this disease is categorized as a preinvasive carcinoma. If the tumor spreads beyond the limits of the epithelium and intrudes into the other layers of the cervix or other organs, an invasive carcinoma is diagnosed. It is extremely difficult to cure invasive carcinoma and this disease is often lethal for the patient.
The management of women having an abnormal result of pap smear depends on the discovered cell changes. It is usually prescribed to repeat pap smear within several months when the changes are linked with an inflammation. In case of need, patients receive an appropriate treatment to get rid of the inflammation. If low grade cell changes have been diagnosed, the doctor may prescribe to repeat pap smear within several months or realize a colposcopic examination. In case pap smear result indicates the presence of high grade cervical lesions, women are immediately referred for a colposcopy and biopsy.
