Papillary Tissue Fragments in Cervicovaginal (Pap) Smears: Cytomorphologic Characteristics and Clinicopathologic Significance.

Publication/Presentation Date

9-1-2011

Abstract

Papillary epithelial fragments (PEFs) are a rarely described architectural feature in cervicovaginal (Pap) smears. Morphologically, PEFs often consist of small, finely branching glandular tissue fragments with varying cytomorphology. This study identified 21 Pap smears (1978-2009) containing PEFs to determine the clinicopathologic significance of such findings. Patients ranged in age from 36 to 81 years (mean, 54 years). The Pap smear diagnoses consisted of 48% overt malignant neoplasms, 24% atypical fragments, and 28% benign entities. The papillary fragments featured a range of cytomorphologies consisting of benign features, mild to marked atypia, and overt malignancy. PEFs were more commonly found (57%) in specimens from patients with significant pathologic outcomes. Hence, the presence of PEFs in a Pap smear should raise concern for a neoplastic process. In smears displaying atypical to malignant cytomorphologic features recommendations for further clinical work-up and/or tissue studies should be made.

Volume

39

Issue

9

First Page

657

Last Page

662

ISSN

1097-0339

Disciplines

Medical Pathology | Pathology

PubMedID

20949454

Peer Reviewed for front end display

Peer-Reviewed

Department(s)

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Document Type

Article

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