Cytologic and biopsy findings leading to conization in adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix.

Abstract

To investigate the utility of currently available screening tests in preoperatively detecting adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix. Patients with a cone biopsy diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ from 1987 to 2000 at our institution were identified. Results from Papanicolaou smears, cervical biopsies, and endocervical curettages preceding the diagnostic cone biopsy were collected from medical records and referring providers. Fisher exact test (two-tail) was used for statistical analysis. The preoperative screening results preceding a cone biopsy containing adenocarcinoma in situ were available in 118 patients. Among 94 Papanicolaou smears, 65 (69%) glandular lesions and 29 (31%) squamous or unspecified lesions were reported. Biopsy and/or endocervical curettage after the 29 squamous or unspecified lesions on Papanicolaou smear detected 15 additional glandular lesions, totaling 80 (85%) of 94 cases of glandular disease detected before conization. Among all 118 cases with some form of preoperative data available, glandular disease was predicted in 100 cases (85%). In cases of suspected glandular disease, 86% were treated with cold knife cone compared with 22% in cases of suspected squamous abnormalities (P <.001). The sensitivity of detecting a glandular abnormality before a cone biopsy containing adenocarcinoma in situ is 69% with the Papanicolaou smear and 85% with the addition of biopsy and endocervical curettage. This underscores the importance of using preoperative assessment to appropriately plan treatment for a suspected glandular lesion.