Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2026
Tubal Cytology of the Fallopian Tube as a Promising Tool for Ovarian Cancer Early Detection
Published on: July 25, 2017
Outcome after a cytological prediction of glandular abnormality
1Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry, 752 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3052, Australia. heather.mitchell@vccr.org
Background:
The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Guidelines for the Management of Women with Screen Detected Abnormalities are under review. The availability of population-based Australian data on the outcome after a cytology prediction of glandular abnormality was considered relevant to revising the recommended investigations for women with these abnormalities.
Aim:
To describe the outcome of women with cytological predictions of glandular abnormalities of the cervix during 1999.
Methods:
A longitudinal study using data held by the Pap Test Registers of Australia.
Results:
Over a 24 month period, 70% (95% confidence interval (CI) 62-78%) of women whose cytology was reported as adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) were confirmed as having high-grade disease. Among women whose cytology was reported as 'inconclusive: possible high-grade glandular disease', the proportion of women having high-grade disease was 25% (95% CI 20-30%). For cytology reports of minor non-specific change (MNSC) of glandular cells, the proportion of women having high-grade disease was 10% (95% CI 8-12%). Cancer was diagnosed in 16%, 5% and <1% of women with index cytology reports of AIS, inconclusive and MNSC, respectively.
Conclusions:
These results can be used to inform an evidence-based approach to the investigation and management of abnormal glandular cytology reports. The results can also be used to better inform women about the significance of their abnormal cytology.
