Gynecologic Cytology 101

Diagnostic entities found on the Pap test. For additional information, please see
Bethesda System Web Atlas.

 

Normal Cytology

Negative for Intraepithelial Lesions or Malignancy (NILM)

 

Common Infectious Diseases

Actinomyces
Candidiasis
Gardnerella
Herpes simplex virus
Trichomoniasis

 

Abnormal (precancerous) Lesions

Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance  (ASC-US)
Atypical Squamous Cells cannot rule out a High-grade Lesion (ASC-H)
Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL)
High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL)

 

Cancerous Lesions

Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma, endocervical type
Adenocarcimona, endometrial type
Adenocarcinoma, ovarian type

 

References

DeMay RM. Art and Science of Cytopathology, 2^nd ed. Chicago, IL: American Society of Clinical Pathologists; 2012. 

Keebler CM, Somrak TM, eds. The Manual of Cytotechnology, 7^th ed. Chicago, IL: American Society of Clinical Pathologists; 1993.

Kurman RJ, ed. Blaustein’s Pathology of the Female Genital Tract, 6^th ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 2001.

Mahon CR, Manuselis G Jr, eds. Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology, 2^nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 1995.

McClatchey KD, ed. Clinical Laboratory Medicine, 2^nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 2002.

Solomon D, Nayar R. The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology: Definitions, Criteria and Explanatory Notes, 2^nd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 2004.

Wilbur DC, Henry MR. College of American Pathologists Practical Guide to Gynecologic Cytopathology: Morphology, Management and Molecular Methods. Chicago, IL: College of American Pathologists; 2008.

American Cancer Society. Cervical Cancer. www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical cancer (accessed 11/22/13)

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. www.acog.org (accessed 11/22/13)