Not necessarily. There are many reasons why glandular cells can become atypical including cancer, infection, inflammation, pregnancy, or previous radiation to the cervix or endometrium.
This could be because of an infection, including HPV. Glandular cells produce mucus in your cervix and uterus. This result means some glandular cells don't look normal. These cell changes are usually more serious than ASC (atypical squamous cells).
When you develop bacterial vaginosis, the balance has become upset. This condition is treatable, but when present, it can cause an abnormal pap smear result. If the condition is untreated, it can lead to more serious problems.
The term "atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance" (AGUS) was introduced at the 1988 Bethesda Conference and defined as morphologic changes in glandular cells beyond those that are suggestive of the benign reactive process, but insufficient for the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS).
Background: Glandular atypia in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears from postmenopausal women is encountered frequently. This finding can be the result of artifactual alterations such as drying artifacts and inflammatory changes or may represent a squamous or glandular, preneoplastic or neoplastic process.
This is referred to as atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP). ASAP, which is defined as a "focus of small acinar structures formed by atypical epithelial cells," is a condition in which the pathologist has insufficient data to make a diagnosis and thus raises the suspicion of cancer.
Depending on the type of HPV a female has, they will present with different symptoms. If they have low risk HPV,
warts may develop on the cervix, causing irritation and pain.
Cervix: HPV and cancer symptoms
- pain during sex.
- pain in the pelvic region.
- unusual discharge from the vagina.
- unusual bleeding, such as after sex.
These abnormalities (also called lesions) are low-grade, meaning that they are not severe, but should still be taken seriously. Most of the lesions will go away on their own, especially in younger people, but about 10 percent of the time the lesions will progress to cancer if left untreated.
The secretory glandular cells contain a well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum are often closely applied to large round mitochondria. These large mitochondria have no relationship to the secretory granules.
Atypical Squamous Cells Result on a Pap Smear
- HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.
- Benign (noncancerous) cellular changes.
- Cervical cysts or polyps.
- Low hormone levels (in patients who are menopausal or post-menopausal)
Due to the trend of increasing age of first pregnancy, abnormal Pap smears including those classified as atypical glandular cells (AGC) are being found more often in early pregnancy.
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) ASC-US means that changes in the cervical cells have been found. The changes are almost always a sign of an HPV infection. ASC-US is the most common abnormal Pap test result.
About 4 in every 10 people who have a colposcopy have a normal result. This means no abnormal cells were found in your cervix during the colposcopy and/or biopsy and you do not need any immediate treatment. You'll be advised to continue with cervical screening as usual, in case abnormal cells develop later on.
You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person.
Positive HPV test.A positive test result means that you have a type of high-risk HPV that's linked to cervical cancer. It doesn't mean that you have cervical cancer now, but it's a warning sign that cervical cancer could develop in the future.
LEEP stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. It's a treatment that prevents cervical cancer. A small electrical wire loop is used to remove abnormal cells from your cervix. LEEP surgery may be performed after abnormal cells are found during a Pap test, colposcopy, or biopsy.
A type of cell that makes mucus and is found in tissue that lines the inner part of the cervix. Abnormal glandular cells may be found in Pap tests and may be a sign of cancer or other serious condition.
A colposcopy is usually carried out in a hospital clinic. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes and you can go home soon afterwards.
Dysplasia is a broad term that refers to the abnormal development of cells within tissues or organs. It can lead to a wide range of conditions that involve enlarged tissue or pre-cancerous cells. Developmental dysplasia is common in children and can affect many parts of the body, including the skeleton.
Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells. Natural cell changes that may happen during and after menopause can also cause an abnormal Pap test.
The Bethesda system (TBS), officially called The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology, is a system for reporting cervical or vaginal cytologic diagnoses, used for reporting Pap smear results. It was introduced in 1988 and revised in 1991, 2001, and 2014.
An abnormal result means that cell changes were found on your cervix. This usually does not mean that you have cervical cancer. Abnormal changes on your cervix are likely caused by HPV. The changes may be minor (low-grade) or serious (high-grade).
Unlike women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, a significant percentage of women with AGUS will have more serious lesions, such as high-grade preinvasive squamous disease, adenocarcinoma in situ, adenocarcinoma or invasive cancers from sites other than the cervix.
Reactive, reparative atypia (presence of immature cells formed in the process of healing or regrowth of the squamous epithelium) is a common finding that often follows treatment of dysplasia and other conditions such as cervical or vaginal infections. It is a benign finding that does not warrant increased surveillance.
FU studies on patients with AGUS have shown a wide spectrum of benign and clinically significant lesions, the latter consisting predominantly of HSIL.
This procedure uses a laser or scalpel to remove a large cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix. Endocervical curettage (ECC). This procedure uses a narrow instrument called a curette to scrape the lining of the endocervical canal. This is an area that can't be seen from the outside of the cervix.
Endocervical adenocarcinoma is a type of cervical cancer. The tumour develops in the cervix from the glands normally found in the endocervical canal. Most of the time endocervical adenocarcinoma develops from a non-invasive type of cancer called adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS).
