Understand the exam & test results given by your clinician.

Clinical Terms for Pap Smear

• Actinomyces: a bacteria, sometimes found in women with an intrauterine device (IUD)

• Atrophic vaginitis: vaginal inflammation caused by decreased estrogen

• Atypia or atypical cells: cells that do not appear normal; a sign of possible infectious disease or other abnormality

• Benign Cellular Changes or Reactive Cellular Changes: an abnormal area often related to infection, inflammation, or irritation

• Candida (yeast or Monilia): a common fungus; causes itching and vaginal discharge

• Carcinoma: cancer; a malignant growth of cells

• Carcinoma in situ (CIS): early cancer; limited to the top layer of the cervix; does not invade; 100% cure rate, if completely removed

• Cytoplasm: the part of the cell that is not the nucleus

• Dysplasia: abnormal cells that may be pre-cancerous; may regress to normal or progress to cancer

• Endocervix: the neck of the womb, beyond the opening of the cervix

• Epithelium: surface layer of tissues

• Gardnerella (Bacterial Vaginosis): a bacteria, sometimes asymptomatic and sometimes causing an odorous discharge

• Genital warts (condyloma): abnormal growths of epithelium resulting from HPV

• Herpes virus: a common virus, sometimes causing genital ulcers and pain

• HPV (Human Papilloma Virus): a sexually transmitted virus; increases the risk of pre-cancerous and cancerous changes in some women

• Invasive cancer: cancer that has spread from the surface cells to deeper tissues

• Neoplasia: cell/tissue abnormality; new growth

• Nucleus: the (normally) round, middle part of the cell that contains the cellular DNA

• Pre-cancerous: abnormal cells or tissue which may become cancer if not treated; dysplasia

• Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL): cell abnormality seen before development of cancer

• Trichomonas vaginalis: a common infection causing a frothy vaginal discharge in women and a urinary discharge in men.

• Within normal limits; Negative for Intraepithelial Lesion or Malignancy. This means there is no sign of infection, irritation, inflammation, cell repair, atypical cells, pre-cancerous changes, or cancer. No treatment is required. A repeat Pap smear in one year or later is recommended, depending on your risk history for developing pre-cancerous cervical changes, and how many satisfactory negative (normal) annual Pap smears you have received in the past.

• Benign cellular changes. Treatment for the specific infection, irritation, or inflammation is often recommended if symptoms are present. Infections which may require treatment are Actinomyces, atrophic vaginitis, Candida, Gardnerella, herpes, or Trichomonas vaginalis. The recommendations for a repeat Pap smear are the same as for "normal".

• Atypical Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS). Dysplasia or HPV or inflammation is possible, but the Pap smear is not diagnostic or definite, and the laboratory cannot be sure. Your clinician may want to repeat the Pap smear and/or perform colposcopy with or without biopsy. An HPV DNA probe (discussed in the next section) is extremely helpful in determining the significance of the ASCUS diagnosis.

• Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) with HPV. Your clinician may want to repeat the Pap smear and/or perform colposcopy and biopsy. There is also a DNA test available that can classify whether the HPV infection is a low-risk type or high-risk type for progression to cancer.

• Low-grade SIL (Mild Dysplasia). Your clinician may want to repeat the Pap smear and/or perform colposcopy and biopsy.

• High-grade SIL (Moderate Dysplasia). Your clinician may want to perform colposcopy and biopsy.

• High-grade SIL (Severe Dysplasia). Your clinician may want to perform colposcopy and biopsy.

• Carcinoma in situ (CIS). Your clinician may want to perform colposcopy and biopsy.

• Invasive carcinoma. Your clinician will discuss with you the diagnostic procedures and treatment options.

• Inadequate/Unsatisfactory. Your clinician will probably want to repeat the Pap smear.