Person:

Goodman, Annekathryn

Objective. To determine the frequency of high risk (HR) HPV and intraepithelial neoplasia following ASCUS pap cytology screens in menopausal women. Study Design. Following IRB approval, we performed a retrospective review of all cases of ASCUS pap tests, HPV results, and relevant clinical-pathologic data in women age 50 or over from November 2005 to January 2007 within a tertiary care center. Statistical analyses were performed in EXCEL. Results. 344 patients were analyzed for a total of 367 screening pap tests. 25.29% (87/344) patients were HR HPV positive, with greater percentages of HR HPV cases occurring in women age 65–74. Within HR HPV cases, 79.3% (69/87) underwent colposcopy. 27.5% (19/69) biopsy proven lesions were discovered, including cervical, vulvar or vaginal (intraepithelial neoplasia). Within the negative HR HPV group 3.1% (8/257) patients were diagnosed with dysplasia or carcinoma. Within both HR HPV positive and negative groups, patients with no prior history of lower genital tract lesions or cancer were identified. Conclusion. Reflex HPV testing plays an important role in ASCUS triage in menopausal women. Pap test screening and HPV testing should not be limited to women of reproductive age as they may aid in the diagnosis of intraepithelial neoplasia in women of older age.

Presentation of Case: A 37-year-old woman was referred to the colposcopy clinic because of two Papanicolaou smears showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US). One and two years previously, the patient had had Papanicolaou smears that were reported to be normal. Six months before referral, a routine pelvic examination revealed no abnormalities. A Papanicolaou smear at that time was interpreted as revealing ASC-US. The patient was reexamined three months later, and another Papanicolaou smear was again interpreted as showing ASC-US. The patient (gravida 5, para 4) had had one spontaneous first-trimester abortion.