title: Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance and other glandular cell abnormalities in a high-risk population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We set out to determine our rate of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) classification, to compare our AGUS rate to rates reported by others, and to determine the correlation between AGUS and histological abnormalities in our population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reports from all Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and associated histological specimens interpreted by the University of Florida Department of Pathology between 1992 and 1996 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 462 (1.2%) of 39,484 Pap smears were classified as epithelial cell abnormality-glandular cell, with 328 (0.83%) AGUS, 102 (0.26%) endometrial cells out of phase or in a postmenopausal woman, and 32 (0.08%) adenocarcinoma. A total of 146 (45%) of the AGUS cases had timely biopsies: 95 (65.1%) had benign findings, 27 (18.5%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 14 (9.6%) had adenocarcinoma (10 endometrial, 2 endocervical, 2 extrauterine), 9 (6%) had endometrial hyperplasia, and 1 (0.7%) showed endocervical glandular cell dysplasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGUS on Pap is associated with a clinically significant histological abnormality in a moderate percentage of patients. Both squamous and glandular lesions are seen, supporting the need for aggressive evaluation of the cervix, endocervix, and endometrium when AGUS is reported.
authors.affiliation: *Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takezawa
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hardt