title: The "atypical" Papanicolaou smear.
abstract: Optimal management of the patient with the atypical smear requires a narrative description of the findings as well as frequent personal communication with the cytopathologist. When the cytologic abnormality suggests the possibility of an underlying early or poorly formed neoplastic lesion, colposcopy is recommended. A definitive histopathologic diagnosis can be obtained with a colposcopically directed biopsy, and any preinvasive lesions can usually be treated with excellent results on an outpatient basis with cryotherapy or laser therapy.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003127:Colposcopy; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears