How to read your Pap test report


What is a Pap test?

The Pap test is a screening test that looks for abnormal cells in the vaginal portion of the uterine cervix. It is called a screening test because it is designed to detect disease before a person experiences any symptoms. The test was named after Dr. Georgios Papanicolaou who invented the test with Dr. Aurel Babes in the early 20th century. Other names for this test are the Pap smear and cervical smear.

Why is a Pap test performed?

The purpose of the Pap test is to look for pre-cancerous diseases in the cervix. These pre-cancerous diseases can turn into cancer over time, so it is important to find and treat them early. The Pap test can also identify abnormal cells coming from the endocervical canal or endometrium.

The most common cancer in the cervix is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer develops from a pre-cancerous disease called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The Pap test is designed to look for both squamous cell carcinoma and HSIL.

The Pap test can also identify infection-causing microorganisms including candida species, trichomonas vaginalis, actinomyces species, herpes virus, and cytomegalovirus.

Continue reading to learn more about the Pap test and how to read your Pap test results.

The cervix

The uterus is a pear-shaped, hollow, female reproductive organ located in the small pelvis. The upper part of the uterus is called the body (uterine corpus), and the lower part is called the neck (uterine cervix). The body is made up of muscles that form a cavity called the endometrium. The endometrium is lined by endometrial glands and stroma.

The uterine cervix is found at the top of the vagina. A narrow passage that runs through the cervix and connects the endometrium and the vagina is called the endocervical canal. The part of the cervix inside the vagina is covered by special cells called squamous cells. These cells form a barrier called the epithelium that protects the cervix. The endocervical canal is covered by a different kind of cell that connects to form endocervical glands. The endometrium is also covered in glands that change throughout the menstrual cycle. The tissue in between the glands is called the stroma.

What causes cervical cancer?

Most cancers and pre-cancerous diseases in the cervix are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus infects cells on the surface of the cervix which causes them to change over time into cancer cells. The same virus causes cancers and pre-cancerous diseases in other parts of the body including the throat, anal canal, vulva, and penis.

How is the Pap test performed?

A Pap test is usually performed in a doctor’s office by a family physician, a gynecologist, or a trained nurse. You will be asked to lay down on your back on an examination table with your knees bent. The doctor will use a medical device called a speculum to see your cervix. Small samples of tissue will then be taken from your cervix using a soft brush and a scraping device called a spatula. For most patients, the procedure only takes a couple of minutes.

Who should get tested?

Screening with the Pap test should start at the age of 21 for sexually active women. For women that have never been sexually active, the screening should be delayed until they are sexually active. Sexual activity includes intercourse, as well as digital or oral sexual activity involving the genital area with a partner of either sex. If no abnormal cells are detected, the test should be repeated every 3 years. A woman may choose to discontinue screening at age 70 if all her tests over the previous 10 years were negative.

The Pap test is safe and effective even if you are pregnant. Pregnant women should be screened according to the same guidelines as non-pregnant women. Women who have had their uterus removed and transgender men who still have a cervix should be screened according to the same guidelines. Women who are immunocompromised (HIV+, immunosuppressant therapy, autoimmune disease) should have a Pap test performed every year.

In some situations, the Pap test may be used to obtain a sample from the vagina, since the vaginal walls are lined by the same type of cells as the vaginal potions of the uterine cervix. The same pre-cancerous conditions can be detected in the vagina.

*These recommendations are based on Ontario Cervical Screening Guidelines. Other provinces may have slightly different guidelines.

What are the possible Pap test results?

In Canada and the United States, the results of a Pap test are divided into three categories:

  • Normal
  • Abnormal
  • Inadequate
Normal

If your pap smear is normal, your result will say negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy. Normal cells need to be seen in order to make this diagnosis. Your doctor will schedule the next routine Pap test according to the local guidelines.

Abnormal

There are three possible types of abnormal results depending on what the pathologist sees when they examine your Pap test under the microscope.

The three types of abnormal are divided into the following groups:

  • Cancers
  • Pre-cancerous diseases
  • Preliminary results

Each type of abnormal result is explained in more detail in the sections below.

Cancers

This group includes both cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. Rarely another type of cancer is seen in a Pap smear.

The following results are types of cancer:

A cancer result requires immediate treatment. Contact your doctor if you are given a cancer result and do not receive information regarding the next steps in a timely manner.

Pre-cancerous diseases

A pre-cancerous disease is a condition that, without treatment, can turn into cancer over time. The Pap test is designed to find two pre-cancerous diseases of the cervix. Both of these diseases are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

The risk of cancer is higher for patients with HSIL. If you receive a result of HSIL, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options with you. The risk of cancer is lower for patients with LSIL although your doctor will talk with you about performing a second Pap test.

Preliminary result

A preliminary result means that abnormal cells were seen in your Pap test but that the changes were not sufficient to make a final diagnosis. A preliminary result does not mean cancer but some preliminary results raise the possibility that a pre-cancerous disease or cancer may be present in your cervix.

You should talk with your doctor about any of the above preliminary abnormal results. In most situations, additional tests such as a colposcopy or a repeat Pap test will be recommended.

Inadequate

In rare situations, the results of a Pap test might be described as inadequate. This means that your pathologist could not reach a diagnosis based on the tissue received for examination. Common reasons for this include a small number of cells, poor preservation of cells, obstructing elements such as blood, and tissue processing errors. A repeat Pap test is usually performed when the result is inadequate.

Endometrial cells

Cells from inside the endometrial cavity (the endometrium) may be seen in your tissue sample. This result is considered normal in women under the age of 45. However, for women over the age of 45 years, these cells are potentially abnormal.

If you are over 45 years of age and endometrial cells are seen on your Pap smear, your doctor may recommend additional tests. The tests may include taking a small sample of tissue from the inside of your uterus in a procedure called an endometrial biopsy.

by Adnan Karavelic, MD FRCPC (updated January 17, 2022)
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