Clinical significance of reporting benign-appearing endometrial cells in Pap tests in women aged 40 years and over

Abstract

Objective: To determine the clinical significance of reporting benign-appearing endometrial cells on Pap tests from women > or = 40 years.

Study design: Pap tests from 149 women demonstrating cytologically benign endometrial cells with histologic follow-up within 12 months were included. Age, menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) status, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), number of children and information from subsequent endometrial sampling were recorded when available.

Results: Of the total number of cases, 60.84% had no endometrial pathology (group 3), 35.66% presented with benign pathologic changes (group 2) and 3.50% demonstrated endometrial carcinoma (group 1). The average age for groups 1-3 was 51.40, 46.72 and 46.17 years, respectively. Overall, 13.99% were postmenopausal (13.79% of group 3, 9.80% of group 2 and 60.00% of group 1); 25.87% were known to use HRT (28.74% of group 3, 23.53% of group 2 and 0.00% of group 1) and 80.42% had AUB (75.86% of group 3, 86.27% of group 2 and 100.00% of group 1).

Conclusion: Benign-appearing endometrial cells in Pap tests from women > or = 40 years were associated with endometrial pathology in 39.16% of the cases, with 3.50% being carcinoma, demonstrating the efficacy of reporting their occurrence.