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What Do My Pap Test Reports Indicate?
Question: Do these PAP results mean I have cancer?? I go back September 8th and I am scared!! The gradular atypical cells scare me.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The good news is that not all cellular abnormalities on a Pap smear necessarily mean cancer.
Atypical glandular cells mean that there is some abnormality of the cells of the glands that line the cervix. This does need to be investigated further, usually with a colposcopy exam, but it doesn't mean that you now have a diagnosis of cancer.
A colposcopy exam is an exam where you also have a speculum in place as you would with a Pap smear, but the doctor looks at the cervix with a special microscope and may take a small biopsy. This is sent to a pathology lab where a pathologist can take a better look at the cells. A colposcopy can last longer than a Pap smear, but otherwise is similar in terms of what you can expect it will be like.
So, if possible, don't worry about this but do follow up with your appointment. To save time, you may want to call your doctor's nurse now to make sure the doctor is aware of the result of the Pap because perhaps he or she will want to set you up with an appointment for colposcopy (or refer you for one).
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The good news is that not all cellular abnormalities on a Pap smear necessarily mean cancer.
Atypical glandular cells mean that there is some abnormality of the cells of the glands that line the cervix. This does need to be investigated further, usually with a colposcopy exam, but it doesn't mean that you now have a diagnosis of cancer.
A colposcopy exam is an exam where you also have a speculum in place as you would with a Pap smear, but the doctor looks at the cervix with a special microscope and may take a small biopsy. This is sent to a pathology lab where a pathologist can take a better look at the cells. A colposcopy can last longer than a Pap smear, but otherwise is similar in terms of what you can expect it will be like.
So, if possible, don't worry about this but do follow up with your appointment. To save time, you may want to call your doctor's nurse now to make sure the doctor is aware of the result of the Pap because perhaps he or she will want to set you up with an appointment for colposcopy (or refer you for one).
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My doctor has me scheduled with a gynecologist so not sure what the plan is?? What i have been reading on the interent about glandular cells is scaring me. Also what does the other atypical cell mean? Is there a good chance this could be benign??
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Yes, there is a chance this could be benign, or a very early cervical cancer. If it is a very early cervical cancer, the affected part can typically be treated in the office (no major surgery required). And the outcome is very good.
Most likely the plan is that the gynecologist will do a colposcopy and take small biopsies.
I am not sure what you meant by "what does the other atypical cell mean"? There is only one thing listed: atypical glandular cells. Please let me know the wording of what you are seeing if I am missing something.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Yes, there is a chance this could be benign, or a very early cervical cancer. If it is a very early cervical cancer, the affected part can typically be treated in the office (no major surgery required). And the outcome is very good.
Most likely the plan is that the gynecologist will do a colposcopy and take small biopsies.
I am not sure what you meant by "what does the other atypical cell mean"? There is only one thing listed: atypical glandular cells. Please let me know the wording of what you are seeing if I am missing something.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Epithilial cell abnormality, what does that mean?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
That is the interpretation which is just a broad category title (possibly for purposes of coding and billing) whereas atypical glandular cells-not specified, which is listed as a comment is the actual Pap smear reading.
So there are not two different diagnoses here. Just 2 different places for the pathologist to enter information on the same thing.
Information
Detailed Answer:
That is the interpretation which is just a broad category title (possibly for purposes of coding and billing) whereas atypical glandular cells-not specified, which is listed as a comment is the actual Pap smear reading.
So there are not two different diagnoses here. Just 2 different places for the pathologist to enter information on the same thing.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks! What could cause atypical glandular cells besides cancer?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
The diagnosis of AGUS (atypical glandular cells - undetermined significance or not specified) can be caused by any of the following cell abnormalities. And these can only be determined by colposcopy with tissue sampling sent to the pathologist:
Normal metaplasia
Atypical metaplasia
Microglandular hyperplasia
Intraepithelial neoplasia
Adenocarcinoma
Not all of these are cancers but can just be abnormal cells.
In some cases, after the colposcopy, the doctor will just recommend a repeat exam at 3 months. In others, the doctor may want to do a LEEP procedure to remove that cells. But keep in mind, AGUS, is not a diagnosis of cancer.
Information
Detailed Answer:
The diagnosis of AGUS (atypical glandular cells - undetermined significance or not specified) can be caused by any of the following cell abnormalities. And these can only be determined by colposcopy with tissue sampling sent to the pathologist:
Normal metaplasia
Atypical metaplasia
Microglandular hyperplasia
Intraepithelial neoplasia
Adenocarcinoma
Not all of these are cancers but can just be abnormal cells.
In some cases, after the colposcopy, the doctor will just recommend a repeat exam at 3 months. In others, the doctor may want to do a LEEP procedure to remove that cells. But keep in mind, AGUS, is not a diagnosis of cancer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
One more thing...I have paps every 3 years, if this is cancer, would it most likely be in the early stages?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Yes, the highest likelihood, given that you have frequent Pap smears (on schedule) is that it is either that the cells are just (temporarily) a little funky or that this is a very early cancer which can be treated conservatively and have good results.
One of the purposes of having Pap smears is to get cancers at their very earliest stages so that they don't progress into problems. Early cervical cancer is one of the most treatable/curable because we can get them so early with regular Pap smears.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Yes, the highest likelihood, given that you have frequent Pap smears (on schedule) is that it is either that the cells are just (temporarily) a little funky or that this is a very early cancer which can be treated conservatively and have good results.
One of the purposes of having Pap smears is to get cancers at their very earliest stages so that they don't progress into problems. Early cervical cancer is one of the most treatable/curable because we can get them so early with regular Pap smears.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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