Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance in postmenopausal women: a comparative retrospective analysis

ObjectivesTo determine the outcomes of women with a diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) with respect to menopausal status.Study designBetween October 2006 and March 2010, the data of 214 postmenopausal women with ASCUS results on Pap smear were evaluated. Sociodemographic data and histopathological results were compared with those of 1018 premenopausal women with ASCUS cytology.ResultsAt the final diagnosis, most histological findings were normal in pre- and postmenopausal women with ASCUS cytology (70% and 70.1%, respectively). In the premenopausal group, 23.1% of the women had cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 lesions and 6.7% had CIN 2/3 lesions. Similarly, CIN 1 and CIN 2/3 lesions were detected in 23.4% and 6.1% of postmenopausal women, respectively. No significant difference in the final diagnosis was found between the two groups (p = 0.88). Two premenopausal women (0.2%) and one postmenopausal woman (0.5%) had micro-invasive cervical carcinoma. There were no cases of invasive carcinoma in either group.ConclusionsAccording to this study, the rates of pre-invasive and micro-invasive cervical carcinoma were similar in pre- and postmenopausal women with ASCUS cytology.