title: Papanicolaou smears showing atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors' objective was to determine retrospectively the methods used to follow up atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) on Papanicolaou smears and to evaluate the effectiveness of those methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of all patients with AGUS smears obtained between February 1993 and April 1996 were reviewed retrospectively, and information was extracted. A computer database was used to identify the patients and review the method of evaluation. The findings from histological sampling also are reported and analyzed. All findings are reported descriptively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine AGUS smears were evaluated. Of these, it was found that six patients had no follow-up. Of the 62 with histological followup, most (74%) underwent colposcopy, endometrial biopsy (63%), or endocervical curettage (50%). Cervical or vaginal biopsy, cervical conization, hysteroscopy, and hysterectomy also were performed. Twenty-seven patients underwent more than one procedure for tissue sampling. Of the 62 patients from whom histological samples were taken, 18 (29%) were found to have clinically significant lesions, 11 of which were carcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our clinic, AGUS smears are a result of a significant number of high-grade neoplastic findings. Histological evaluation is necessary in most cases for accurate diagnosis because of the multiple, varied potential etiologies of AGUS smears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Julian