Significance of "normal" endometrial cells in cervical cytology from asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy

Objective. The aim of this study is to assess the significance of normal en dometrial cells identified in screening Pap smears from asymptomatic postme nopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Methods. Endometrial histology reported from 93 asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving HRT noted to have normal endometrial cells on a screening Pap smear was reviewed. Information regarding HRT, endometrial sampling, an d interval between the sentinel Pap and sampling was extracted from the rec ord. Results. Endometrial biopsies were obtained an average of 1.7 months after the Pap smears. Eighteen of the ninety-three histology specimens(19%, 95% C I: 12-27%) identified abnormalities, in four cases precancerous or cancerou s lesions. These 18 abnormalities included 7 endometrial polyps; 7 cases of simple hyperplasia, 1 with atypia; 3 cases of complex hyperplasia, 1 with atypia; and 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma. Conclusion. Normal endometrial cells identified on a screening Pap smear in this population may be an indication of endometrial disease. (C) 2001 Acad emic Press.