Clinical utility of adjunctive high-risk human papillomavirus DNA testing in women with Papanicolaou test findings of atypical glandular cells

* Context.--Atypical glandular cell (AGC) Papanicolaou (Pap) test interpretations are challenging. Most biopsy findings are benign, but AGC results may also reflect highly significant noninvasive neoplastic and malignant histologic outcomes. High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test use with AGC Pap test results is evolving. Objective.--To further evaluate the utility and limitations of hrHPV testing with AGC Pap tests. Design.--Hospital records were searched for AGC Pap tests results from June 1, 2005, to August 31, 2007. Cases of AGC with hrHPV tests and histopathologic follow-up were included. Results.--Of the 662 women with AGC Pap test results and follow-up analyzed, hrHPV results were available for 309 (46.7%) and were positive in 75 cases (24.3%). Among the 75 cases with hrHPV+ AGC results, 13 (17.3%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2/3, 10 (13.3%) had adenocarcinoma in situ, and 3 (4.0%) had cervical invasive adenocarcinoma, whereas for 234 women with [hrHPV.sup.-] results, 1 (0.4%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2/3,1 (0.4%) had adenocarcinoma in situ, 1 each (0.4%) had cervical adenocarcinoma and ovarian carcinoma, and 8 (3.4%) had endometrial carcinoma. Conclusions.--Positive hrHPV AGC results were most strongly associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2/3 and adenocarcinoma in situ in women younger than 50 years. Positive hrHPV AGC results were also present in all 3 cases of invasive cervical adenocarcinoma in women younger than 50 years. Of note, [hrHPV.sup.-] AGC results were present in 10 of 13 carcinomas (76.9%) detected after AGC Pap tests, all in women 40 years or older with endometrial adenocarcinomas (n = 8), ovarian carcinoma (n = 1), and cervical adenosquamous carcinoma in a woman (n = 1) in her 50s. Testing for hrHPV after AGC Pap testing was most helpful in the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2/3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and invasive cervical adenocarcinomas in women younger than 50 years. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2010;134:103-108)
A typical glandular cell (AGC) interpretations (1-2) and screening for glandular cervical neoplasia (3-7) remain some of the major challenges in gynecologic cytopathology. Even though most Papanicolaou (Pap) tests with [...]