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Prevalence and epidemiologic correlates of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance in women at low risk for cervical cancer
Author(s) -
Becker Eduardo,
Edelweiss Maria Isabel,
nenmacher Bernadete,
Bozzetti Mary Clarisse
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.1059
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical cancer , cancer , oncology , gynecology , dermatology
Our aim was to determine the prevalence and epidemiologic correlates of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in a population at low risk for cervical cancer in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Sociodemographic data and gynecological and obstetrical history from 977 women screened at an outpatient clinic were recorded. Specimens were collected for Papanicolaou cervical cytology, colposcopy, and biopsy (if indicated). Sixty‐two (6.3%) patients presented ASCUS, 21 (2.1%) presented low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 6 (0.6%) presented high‐grade lesions. Presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical cells (odds ratio (OR) = 1.57; confidence interval (CI) 95% = 1.11–2.23), history of HPV infection (OR = 3.12; CI 95% = 1.22–7.96), and becoming sexually active at 18 yr or younger (OR = 1.70; CI 95% = 1.15–2.51) were independently associated with ASCUS. ASCUS patients reported HPV infections and presented HPV DNA in cervical cells more often than did patients with normal cytology; therefore, they should be carefully monitored to ensure early detection of cancer precursor lesions and prevention of cervical cancer. Diagn. Cytopathol. 24:276–282, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.