Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Clinical experience in a Turkish university hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the significance of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in predicting the presence of underlying squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) of the uterine cervix, and to determine the best follow-up method for these patients.


METHODS
We reviewed 76 cases with cervical smears that had been labeled ASCUS over a 41-month period, 64 of which were also examined colposcopically.


RESULTS
The 76 reported ASCUS 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.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this study, ASCUS on a cervical smear is a good marker for detecting underlying SIL, and immediate colposcopy and directed biopsy are the most appropriate follow-up procedures.
Ergeneli
M H
MH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baskent University School of Medicine, Kubilay Sokak No. 36, Maltepe, 06570, Ankara, Turkey.
Duran
E H
EH
Ergin
T
T
Demirhan
B
B
Erdogan
M
M
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology