Clinical significance and management of cervical atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical significance of a cervical cytological diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance and to formulate the most appropriate management guidelines for patients with such a diagnosis.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Regional hospital, Hong Kong.


METHODS
Seventy-two patients with diagnoses of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance who were managed in a colposcopy clinic between January 1998 and December 1999.


METHODS
Age, cytological diagnoses of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance and its subtypes, method of evaluation, final diagnosis, and outcome after 2 years.


RESULTS
Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance were diagnosed in 83 (0.4%) of 21 854 cervical smear samples taken during the 2-year study period. Follow-up data were available from 72 patients, whose mean age was 43 years (range, 22-69 years). Forty-three percent of these patients had significant diseases of the genital tract. Patients with the subtype diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance-favour neoplasia had the worst outcome, with 90% of patients having significant disease, followed by patients with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance "not otherwise specified" (43%), and atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance-favour reactive (8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance should be investigated early and thoroughly, because many of them will have premalignant or malignant disease.
Chan
C W
CW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, ROC.
Cheung
K B
KB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears