What does atypical glandular cells on Pap smear mean?
The result of atypical glandular cells means that abnormal-looking cells were seen on your Pap test. This result is preliminary and not a final diagnosis. The abnormal cells may have come from the tissue lining the inside of the endometrium or the cervix.
Does glandular cells mean cancer?
Atypical glandular cells (AGC) – Glandular cells make up a thin layer that covers the inner cervix canal and are present in the uterus. This means changes found in glandular cells could be precancer or cancer.
What are glandular cells in cervix?
A type of cell that makes mucus and is found in tissue that lines the inner part of the cervix. Abnormal glandular cells may be found in Pap tests and may be a sign of cancer or other serious condition.
Should I worry about atypical glandular cells?
Atypical glandular cells (AGC) diagnosis should be immediately followed up with a clinician. There is risk of premalignant lesions in patients diagnosed with AGC is as high as 11%, the risk of endometrial cancer is 3%, and the risk of cervical cancer is 1%.
How common is atypical glandular cells?
Atypical glandular cells (AGC) are uncommon, occurring in approximately 3 per 1000 specimens, but are a significant cervical cytology finding. Several retrospective studies have reported a 2-5% prevalence of invasive malignancy in women with AGC.
What are the possible results of a cervical biopsy?
After the biopsy, you may have some bleeding for up to a week. You may have mild cramping, your vagina may feel sore, and you may have a dark discharge for 1 to 3 days. A colposcopy and biopsy will not make it more difficult for you to become pregnant, or cause problems during pregnancy.
Where can you find glandular tissue in the body?
Moreover, glandular epithelium can be found as a secretory sheet of cells lining the inside of an entire organ, such as the stomach. Finally, glandular epithelium can also be found within endocrine glands, which are the ductless glands that secrete hormones into the blood.
What is meant by glandular cells?
Glandular cells are a type of cell found in the cervix and the lining of the uterus (endometrium). Glandular cells are involved in the menstrual cycle and in the production of cervical mucus. Glandular cells found on a Pap test may be normal, abnormal, or cancerous.
Can a yeast infection cause atypical glandular cells?
Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells. Natural cell changes that may happen during and after menopause can also cause an abnormal Pap test.
How do you treat atypical glandular cells?
When a precancerous or cancerous condition is found in atypical glandular cells, the doctor may remove the affected tissue via laser surgery if it has not already been removed through cold knife conization at the time of biopsy.
Does HPV cause abnormal glandular cells?
This could be because of an infection, including HPV. Glandular cells produce mucus in your cervix and uterus. This result means some glandular cells don’t look normal. These cell changes are usually more serious than ASC (atypical squamous cells).
What does the Pap test mean for cervical cancer?
Specimens from some women may also show “reactive cellular changes”, which is the way cervical cells appear when infection or other inflammation is around. This means that the cells lining the cervix or vagina show changes that might be cancer or a pre-cancer.
Where are atypical glandular cells found on a Pap smear?
Atypical glandular cells are simply cells that do not look normal on the Pap smear. They are often called “atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance.” Glandular cells are found in the thin tissue layer making up the cervix’s inner canal, as well as in the uterus.
What is the difference between a Pap test and a HPV test?
The HPV test checks cells for infection with high-risk HPV types. The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells and looks at them for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer.
What causes atypical glandular cells in the cervix?
Many times, atypical glandular cells are found in the cervix. They are often caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and can indicate cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Most often they are found through a pap smear, which is an exam in which a doctor takes samples of cervical tissue for testing.