Pathology and screening
Pap smear (cervical screening) report explainer
Cervical screening results use a standard set of abbreviations that are rarely explained on the report itself. Add your result below to see what each line and abbreviation stands for.
Explain your Pap smear (cervical screening) report
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- 2. Check itPersonal details are removed on your device. You approve what is sent.
- 3. Read itSummary, table of results, terms and questions to ask.
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What you get
- The adequacy statement, the interpretation and any HPV result on separate rows.
- Abbreviations such as NILM, ASC-US and LSIL written out in full.
- The recommendation quoted as written.
- Questions to ask the clinic that took the sample.
Wording you may see
- Satisfactory for evaluationThe sample had enough cells to be read
- NILMNegative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, meaning no abnormal cells were seen
- ASC-USAtypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
- LSIL and HSILLow-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
- HPV detected or not detectedThe result of testing for human papillomavirus
- Transformation zone component presentThe sample included cells from the area screening aims to check
What this tool cannot tell you
Cervical screening is a screening test, not a diagnosis. An abnormal result means more checks are advised, and what those are depends on your age, your history and the screening programme where you live. MedicDecode explains the wording. Your clinic will tell you what follow-up is recommended, so please attend it.
Common questions
What does ASC-US mean?
Some cells looked slightly unusual and the sample alone could not show why. It is a common result, and the HPV test is often used to decide what follow-up is advised.
What does unsatisfactory mean?
The sample could not be read, for example because it held too few cells. A repeat test is normally requested.
Does a positive HPV test mean cancer?
No. It means the virus was found. HPV is very common, and the result is used to decide how closely to follow up.
Words you may see on this report
Tap a word for its plain-English meaning, an example line and what it does not mean.
- Atypical
Atypical means cells look different from normal under the microscope, but not clearly enough to be called cancer.
- Cytology
Cytology is the study of individual cells, usually from fluid, a smear or a fine needle sample, looked at under a microscope.
- Dysplasia
Dysplasia means cells look abnormal under the microscope in a way that is not cancer, but in some tissues may lead toward cancer if left alone.
- Benign
Benign means not cancer. A benign growth does not spread to other parts of the body.
- Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure to take a small sample of tissue so it can be looked at under a microscope.
- Carcinoma in situ
Carcinoma in situ means abnormal cells that look like cancer are found, but they have not grown beyond the layer where they started.
- Grade and stage
Grade describes how abnormal cancer cells look under a microscope. Stage describes how large a cancer is and how far it has spread.
- Malignant
Malignant means cancerous. A malignant growth can grow into nearby tissue and may spread to other parts of the body.
- Margins
Margins are the edges of tissue removed in surgery. The pathologist checks whether abnormal cells reach those edges.
- Metastasis
Metastasis means cancer cells have spread from where they started to another part of the body. The plural is metastases.
- Necrosis
Necrosis means death of body tissue or cells in a particular area, caused by injury, infection, lack of blood supply or certain substances.