Normal-Appearing Endometrial Cells in Pap Tests of Women Aged Forty Years or Older and Cytohistological Correlates.
OBJECTIVE
The Bethesda System 2001 for reporting cervical cytology recommends reporting benign-appearing, exfoliated endometrial cells in women aged 40 years or older. The objective of this study was to determine the significance of normal endometrial cells in conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) tests of women aged 40 years and older and to correlate this finding with histological follow-up.


METHODS
Over a period of 5 years, all Pap tests showing endometrial cells in women aged ≥ 40 years were identified. Histological follow-up and outcome were evaluated.


RESULTS
Out of 17,275 Pap tests, 199 (1.15%) showed benign endometrial cells. Forty-seven of these 199 patients had subsequent tissue sampling by surgical procedures including endometrial curettage (n = 31), lower genital tract biopsy (n = 30) and hysterectomy (n = 2). Overall, out of 47 cases, 3 (6.4%) had significant endometrial pathology including 2 simple hyperplasias without atypia and 1 complex hyperplasia with atypia.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of clinically significant endometrial lesions associated with the presence of endometrial cells in Pap tests of women aged 40 years and older was very low. Considering this finding, women aged between 40 and 50 years with benign endometrial cells in a Pap test should undertake endometrial sampling only when additional clinical indicators are recognized.
Department of Pathology, General Women Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Narges
N
Izadi-Mood
Soheila
S
Sarmadi
Sanaz
S
Sanii
Hossein
H
Sadidi
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014626:Vaginal Smears