Is the diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance associated with greater risk at an inner city hospital?

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the high-risk patients at an inner city hospital with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGC) on their Pap smears have a higher rate of underlying significant pathology than that reported in published data.

STUDY

DESIGN

This was an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review of all AGC Pap smears performed at University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey, between January 1, 2001, and July 30, 2008. We defined significant pathology as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 (CIN 2) or greater, endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ or greater, or simple hyperplasia or greater of the endometrium.

RESULTS

Medical records of 126 patients were reviewed. Forty did not meet inclusion criteria; 86 patients were included in the analysis. Thirty of the 86 (34.9%) patients were found to have significant pathology.

CONCLUSION

Patients with AGC Pap results at our inner city hospital have a high risk for underlying significant pathology.