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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;ASCUS stands for &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Atypical Cells of Undetermined Significance&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;. ASCUS is a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/your-first-pap-smear-what-to-expect-582026&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Pap smear&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; result classification that reports abnormal cervical cells and the cause is unknown.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What is a Pap Smear?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A Pap smear involves collecting cells from your &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-cervix-3520584&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cervix&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; \u2014 the lower, narrow end of your &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/uterus-location-function-female-anatomy-3157180&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;uterus&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that&amp;amp;#39;s at the top of your vagina.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Detecting &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/cervical-cancer-101-581932&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cervical cancer&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; early with a Pap smear gives you a greater chance at a cure. A Pap smear can also detect changes in your cervical cells that suggest cancer may develop in the future. Detecting these abnormal cells early with a Pap smear is your first step in halting the possible development of cervical cancer.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Pap smear is usually done in conjunction with a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/going-to-the-gynecologist-101-3522436&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;pelvic exam&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. In women older than age 30, the Pap test may be combined with a test for &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/hpv-causes-symptoms-513833&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;human papillomavirus&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (HPV) \u2014 a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer in some women&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Normal results&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If only normal cervical cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you&amp;amp;#39;re said to have a negative result. You won&amp;amp;#39;t need any further treatment or testing until you&amp;amp;#39;re due for your next Pap smear and pelvic exam.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Abnormal results&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If abnormal or unusual cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you&amp;amp;#39;re said to have a positive result. A positive result doesn&amp;amp;#39;t mean you have cervical cancer. What a positive result means depends on the type of cells discovered in your test.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Here are some terms your doctor might use and what your next course of action might be:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS).&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-squamous-cells-3132912&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Squamous cells&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; are thin and flat and grow on the surface of a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-to-have-a-healthy-cervix-582022&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;healthy cervix&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. In the case of ASCUS, the Pap smear reveals slightly abnormal squamous cells, but the changes don&amp;amp;#39;t clearly suggest that precancerous cells are present.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;With the liquid-based test, your doctor can reanalyze the sample to check for the presence of viruses known to promote the development of cancer, such as some types of human papillomavirus (HPV).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If no high-risk viruses are present, the abnormal cells found as a result of the test aren&amp;amp;#39;t of great concern. If worrisome viruses are present, you&amp;amp;#39;ll need further testing.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Squamous intraepithelial lesion.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0This term is used to indicate that the cells collected from the Pap smear may be precancerous.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If the changes are low grade, it means the size, shape and other characteristics of the cells suggest that if a precancerous lesion is present, it&amp;amp;#39;s likely to be years away from becoming a cancer.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If the changes are high grade, there&amp;amp;#39;s a greater chance that the lesion may develop into cancer much sooner. Additional diagnostic testing is necessary.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Atypical glandular cells.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Glandular cells produce mucus and grow in the opening of your cervix and within your uterus. Atypical glandular cells may appear to be slightly abnormal, but it&amp;amp;#39;s unclear whether they&amp;amp;#39;re cancerous.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Further testing is needed to determine the source of the abnormal cells and their significance.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma cells.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0This result means the cells collected for the Pap smear appear so abnormal that the pathologist is almost certain a cancer is present.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#34;Squamous cell cancer&amp;amp;#34; refers to cancers arising in the flat surface cells of the vagina or cervix. &amp;amp;#34;Adenocarcinoma&amp;amp;#34; refers to cancers arising in glandular cells. If such cells are found, your doctor will recommend prompt evaluation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If your Pap smear is abnormal, your doctor may perform a procedure called colposcopy using a special magnifying instrument (&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-colposcopy-3520585&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;colposcope&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;) to examine the tissues of the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-cervix-513843&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cervix&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, vagina and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/vulvar-self-exam-514538&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;vulva&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Your doctor also may take a tissue sample (&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/biopsy-explained-3157051&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;biopsy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;) from any areas that appear abnormal. The tissue sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis and a definitive diagnosis.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Reference:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Mayo Clinic. Pap Smear.\u00A0http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pap-smear/basics/results/prc-20013038&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/definition-of-ascus-and-pap-smear-581954>