ATYPICAL GLANDULAR CELLS OF UNDETERMINED SIGNIFICANCE - A 5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE HISTOPATHOLOGIC STUDY

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to ascertain the types and frequency of pat hologic conditions associated with atypical glandular cells of undeter mined significance on Papanicolaou smears. STUDY DESIGN: A 5-year retr ospective review of screening cervical cytologic examinations diagnose d as atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance was perform ed at the University of Virginia to determine pathologic findings asso ciated with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance on P apanicolaou smears stratified by subtype and overall. RESULTS: Patholo gic findings for the respective Papanicolaou smears with the diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance not otherwis e specified, favor benign, squamous intraepithelial lesions, and favor neoplasia through the follow-up interval were as follows: squamous in traepithelial lesions in 11%, 8%, 38%, and 20%; adenocarcinoma in situ in 3%, 0%, 0%, and 10%; endometrial hyperplasia in 3%, 5%, 1%, and 2% ; and cancer in 8%, 3%, 1%, and 7%. Overall, 63 patients (32%) had pre invasive or invasive lesions. Conclusions: Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance on Papanicolaou smears were correlated with significant findings in 45% of patients (32% with preinvasive or inva sive lesions and 13% with benign lesions). A prompt and aggressive wor kup is recommended.