title: Colposcopic and histologic findings in women with a cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The optimal method for managing a patient diagnosed with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) has not yet been established. The interim guidelines published by the National Cancer Institute suggest that a patient should be referred for colposcopy after the second ASCUS diagnosis within 2 years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the significance of ASCUS in predicting the presence of underlying squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) of the uterine cervix.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing colposcopy for ASCUS cytology at a teaching hospital in Tehran University, in the years 1998-2001, considered eligible to enter this retrospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 266 patients who underwent colposcopy, 28 (11%) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 16 (6.3%) had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) two (0.8%) had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 48 (18.8%) had flat condyloma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) on a cervical smear is a good marker for detecting underlying SIL and condyloma. Thus, immediate colposcopy and directed biopsy are appropriate follow-up procedures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Mirza Koochak Khan Hospital, Tehran, Iran. valrec2@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yarandi
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Izadi Mood
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirashrafi
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Eftekhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears