If you have had a Pap test, a fine needle aspiration, or a procedure to sample fluid from around your lungs or in your abdomen, the report you received was likely a cytology report. Cytology reports are different from the tissue-based pathology reports most people are familiar with — they are based on the examination …
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Microglandular hyperplasia is a noncancerous condition of the cervix. It happens when the glandular cells in the cervix grow in greater numbers than usual and form many small, crowded glands. The word hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells within the glands. This condition is harmless and is most often discovered by chance when …
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Tunnel clusters are groups of small gland-like structures that can form in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. These glands are lined by the same mucus-producing cells that are normally found in the cervix. Under the microscope, they often appear as tightly packed tubes or tunnels, …
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A Nabothian cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that develops on the surface of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Nabothian cysts are very common and benign, meaning they are noncancerous and generally harmless. They form when tiny mucus-producing glands in the cervix become blocked. …
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Chronic cervicitis means long-term inflammation of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Inflammation most often develops in the transformation zone, which is the area where glandular cells from the endocervix are gradually replaced by squamous cells from the ectocervix. Chronic cervicitis is very common and …
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A Pap test (also called a Pap smear) is a simple screening test used to look for abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix or anal canal. These areas are lined by squamous cells, which can develop changes over time that may lead to cancer if not detected and treated early. The main purpose …
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The transformation zone is a normal part of the cervix, the lower end of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Two different types of cells cover the cervix: Squamous cells, which cover the outer surface of the cervix (the ectocervix) Glandular cells, which line the cervical canal leading into the uterus (the endocervix) The …
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Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) is the most common and reassuring result from a Pap smear. It means that no precancerous or cancerous cells were found in the sample from your cervix. In other words, it is considered a normal result. How do pathologists make this diagnosis? The Pap smear is a screening …
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ASC-H stands for “atypical squamous cells – cannot rule out high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)”. It is a term used in Pap smear results when abnormal cells are seen on the surface of the cervix. These changes raise concern for a precancerous condition, but they are not specific enough to confirm a diagnosis of high-grade …
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HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cervical cancer. It develops from squamous cells — the flat cells that line the outer surface of the cervix — following persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Most cases develop slowly over many years from a precancerous condition called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). …
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