title: Background features of endometrial carcinoma on ThinPrep cytology.
abstract: Conventional smear screening has had little impact on the detection of endometrial carcinoma. Recent studies on liquid-based preparations show promise with increased detection rates of endometrial lesions. The purpose of this 2-yr retrospective study (February 1, 2002-February 29, 2004) was to evaluate the background features on ThinPrep slide preparations from endometrial carcinomas. During this period, 20 (0.06%) cases were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, of which 15 (75%) showed endometrial carcinoma on cervical or vaginal biopsy. Classic tumor diathesis was present on the slides in 8 (53%) of the cases, the majority of which were from high-grade tumors. In 1 (7%) case, the tumor diathesis consisted of precipitated protein in a watery background. Tumor diathesis was absent in 6 (40%) of the cases, the majority of which were low-grade lesions. Background features on ThinPrep Pap tests from patients with endometrial features range from classic tumor diathesis to clean; findings dependent on the histologic type and grade of the tumor and the extent of the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA. sm.selvaggi@hosp.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014626:Vaginal Smears