Atypical glandular cells in cervical smears from women who have undergone cone biopsy. A potential diagnostic pitfall.

Twelve cervical smears from nine women who had cervical cone biopsies performed at least six months preceding the smears contained atypical glandular cells that raised the possibility of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). However, these smears differed from those usually seen in AIS in that the abnormal cells were less frequent and part of a spectrum of more benign-appearing cells, some of which appeared to be endometrial. A separate review of cervical smears following 31 consecutive cone biopsies showed that 16 of 54 contained crowded glandular cells. However, in only one case were they suggestive of AIS. Alteration of the microscopic anatomy of the endocervix following cone biopsy may be responsible for the exfoliation of such cells.