The clinical significance of atypical glandular cells in Papanicolaou tests: changes in diagnostic patterns over 15 years at a single institution.

Abstract

Introduction: Detection of atypical glandular cells (AGCs) by Papanicolaou (Pap) test remains a significant challenge in gynecological cytology. We compared follow-up diagnoses, age groups, and human papillomavirus (HPV) results for AGC at our institution to that of our previous study (study period 2008-2013).

Methods: AGC Paps diagnosed and HPV results between January 2020 and June 2024 were obtained from the database at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

Results: Of the total 188,320 Paps performed during the study period, 1025 had AGC diagnoses comprising 0.54% of the total. A total of 92.2% of cases had a companion HPV test, with positive HPV results seen in 32.9% of cases. Overall, 33.3% (286/859) of AGC cases had subsequent significant histologic findings (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 and 3, adenocarcinoma in-situ, endocervical adenocarcinoma, endometrial lesions, metastatic carcinoma). Detection of cervical lesions was highest in women <30 years (50%) and significantly decreased with increasing age (P < 0.0001). Identification of endometrial lesions was highest in the ≥50-year group (P < 0.0001). Nearly half of AGC/HPV-positive cases had significant cervical findings, while these were detected in only 2.1% of AGC/HPV-negative cases (P < 0.0001). Endometrial lesions were identified in 25.7% of AGC/HPV-negative cases, but only in <1% of AGC/HPV-positive cases (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were identified comparing the 2 study periods: increased HPV testing (P < 0.0001), increased HPV-positivity (P = 0.0029), decreased AGC rate (P < 0.0001), and increased endometrial lesions on follow-up (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Our findings continue to support HPV results and patient age as valuable data in triaging AGC. AGC/HPV-positive results frequently suggest a cervical/HPV-related lesion, often in younger patients. Conversely, AGC/HPV-negative results, especially in patients ≥50 years, support noncervical lesional origins.