Pap smear and its findings: Its groups and meanings

Pap smear in early detection of cervical cancer

Pap test and its findings

The Pap smear is part of the cervical cancer screening programme in most countries, so the cost of a Pap test is covered by health insurance companies. In Germany, women between the ages of 20 and 34 are entitled to a free Pap test every year, while women over 35 are entitled to one free Pap test along with an HPV test every three years. Other countries are also about to change or have already changed cervical cancer screening to primary HPV screening for older women and using the Pap smear as a primary screening test alone only in the younger patient group.

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The Pap smear

The cell samples for a Pap test are obtained by a gynaecological smear. The gynaecologist carries this out with a special brush. The procedure is painless and risk-free. The gynaecologist then sends the Pap smear to a laboratory, which is why it takes about a week to get the results of a Pap test. The doctor and patient discuss what to do after an abnormal Pap smear result.

What is a Pap smear?

For the Pap test, a smear sample is taken from the cervix and examined under the microscope for cellular changes. Five groups (according to the “Nomenclature of Munich”) provide information about the degree of change. Pap I and II are harmless. From a Pap III onwards, a result is considered abnormal. However, Pap tests are error-prone and can yield false positives. This means that even sometimes healthy women receive abnormal Pap smear results. They then needlessly have to undergo further examinations. A Pap test can also produce a false-negative result. In this case, the test fails to detect an existing cell change.

Pap I:

A Pap I result means that the examined cells appear healthy. No further examination is required. The next Pap smear is not performed until the next screening interval.

Pap II:

At Pap II, slightly inflamed but not alarmingly altered cells are found. Pap II is considered a normal finding and there is no suspicion of cancer. Usually, no further treatment is necessary.

Pap IIa is also a normal finding, but here the gynaecologist decides whether and when the test should be repeated on the basis of the patient’s medical history.

In other countries, this finding is also called ASC-US.

Pap III:

Pap III means that the test findings are unclear or inconclusive. Although the cells are clearly abnormal and altered, the cause of this can only be determined through further examination. In this case, the Pap smear is usually repeated after a certain period of time. At this stage, the affected cells have not yet developed into cancer cells.

With Pap IIID 1 (also called LSIL – low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion – in some countries), there are abnormal cells that indicate changes in the tissue: so-called dysplasia. However, these very often tend to regress. This finding is also called mild to moderate dysplasia and occurs relatively frequently in young women. The affected women are monitored using watchful waiting. If the findings have not changed after one year, further examinations such as a vaginal endoscopy (colposcopy) are necessary.

Pap IV

At Pap IV, there is a high probability of severe tissue changes (dysplasia), also called HSIL or high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The affected woman may have a precancerous stage or already have cervical cancer, and such mutations rarely disappear on their own. Regardless of the result of HPV tests, a biopsy provides clarity: in a vaginal endoscopy (colposcopy), a tissue sample is taken from the cervix. Since not every gynaecologist can perform a colposcopy, affected women may have to make an appointment at a so-called dysplasia consultation or a specialised gynaecological clinic.

Pap V

In the case of a Pap V finding, malignant altered cells are detectable in the Pap smear. The probability of cervical cancer is very high. Nevertheless, Pap V is still not a cancer diagnosis. For a reliable result, a tissue sample via vaginal endoscopy (colposcopy) is necessary.

Pap Group	Alternative name	Meaning	Examination	When is GynTect® useful?
Pap I	NILM	Unremarkable, normal findings	Next examination at the normal necessary examination interval for the early detection of cervical cancer
Pap II	ASC-US	Slightly abnormal, but not much changed	Depending on the patient’s medical history, the Pap test may be repeated	The GynTect® test can provide rapid certainty. Consult your gynaecologist!
Pap III	ASC-H (Pap III) LSIL (Pap IIID1) HSIL (Pap IIID2)	Unclear, inconclusive findings. There is dysplasia, but no cancer yet	Active monitoring (watchful waiting), and where appropriate, Colposcopy	The GynTect® test can provide rapid certainty. Consult your gynaecologist!
Pap IV	HSIL	A precancerous stage is likely, an existing cancer is also possible	Colposcopy-directed biopsy
Pap V	Cervical cancer	Malignant cell changes were found. Cervical cancer is very likely	A comprehensive cancer diagnosis is necessary. Colposcopy-directed biopsy

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Note

This page is intended to give patients a summary overview of the topic. Reading this page does not replace a medical consultation or a discussion with your doctor.

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oncgnostics GmbH

oncgnostics GmbH, a spin-off of the University Women’s Hospital in Jena, is a molecular diagnostics company which is specialised in the development of in-vitro diagnostic tests for the detection of cancer.