Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance - Clinical experiencein a Turkish university hospital

Objective: To assess the significance of atypical squamous cells of undeter mined significance (ASCUS) in predicting the presence of underlying squamou s intraepithelial lesion (SIL) of the uterine cervix, and to determine the best follow-up method for these patients. Study design: We reviewed 76 case s with cervical smears that had been labeled ASCUS over a 41-month period, 64 of which were also examined colposcopically. Results: The 76 reported AS CUS cases represented 1.2% of all gynecologic cases diagnosed at our center during the same time period. Of the 64 patients who underwent colposcopy, 9 (14%) had low-grade SIL and 7 (11%) had high-grade SIL. Conclusion: Based on this study. ASCUS on a cervical smear is a good marker for detecting un derlying SIL, and immediate colposcopy and directed biopsy are the most app ropriate follow-up procedures. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All r ights reserved.