Evaluation of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance: is age important?
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess the effect of age on the incidence of significant pathologic findings in patients with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance.


METHODS
This retrospective study evaluated nonreferred patients with Papanicolaou smears showing atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance over a 5-year period.


RESULTS
Two hundred eighty-one women (91%) with Papanicolaou smears showing atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance were available for follow-up. Significant abnormality was found in 90 subjects (32%), including 31 women (11%) with cancer. Older patients (> or =50 years old) have lower odds of high-grade cervical dysplasia (odds ratio = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.32-0.40) and higher odds of uterine cancer (odds ratio = 12.88; 95% CI: 1.78-567.60) compared with younger patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with Papanicolaou smears showing atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance have a 1 in 3 chance of having significant abnormality. Evaluation includes colposcopy, endocervical curettage, and appropriate cervical biopsies. Patients >45 years require endometrial biopsies.
Koonings
P P
PP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Diego, California 92120, USA.
Price
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears