Atypical glandular cells on cervical smears

A standardized propaedeutic research to determine the clinical significance of cervical smears with atypical glandular cells.

Of the 8,807 women seen at the Division of Lower Genital Tract Pathology and Colposcopy, São Paulo, Brazil, during a 5-year study, 57 (0.65%) had atypical glandular cells. Forty-two of them underwent colposcopy and hysteroscopy with 12-month follow-up. Conization and/or hysterectomy were performed if both exams were negative. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis.

A clinically significant lesion of the cervix and endometrium was diagnosed in 59.5% of the cases. The lesion was restricted to the cervix in women younger than 40 years, but could also be located in the body of the uterus in women older than 40 years.

Colposcopic evaluation in all women and study of the uterine cavity in women aged 40 years or older is necessary in the presence of this cytologic finding.