Clinical Diagnostic Value of Atypical Glandular Cells in Cervical Cytology: A Single Center Experience From China

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of atypical glandular cells (AGCs) by analyzing the prevalence and histopathology of AGCs according to cervical cytology.MethodsThe authors retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the demographic characteristics and histopathological outcomes including pathological diagnosis, pathological site, and epithelial distribution of the AGC cases that were diagnosed by cervical cytology.ResultsA total of 387 AGC patients with follow-up records were included. Among them, the prevalence of AGC-not otherwise specified (NOS) and AGC-favor neoplastic (FN) was 73.39% (284/387) and 26.62% (103/387), respectively. The high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV)-positive rate was higher in AGC-FN than in AGC-NOS (p = .002). The difference in pathological severity was statistically significant between hr-HPV-positive and negative AGC patients (p = .010). Hr-HPV-positive AGC mainly occurs in cervical diseases, whereas hr-HPV-negative AGC is mainly related to endometrial lesions. Precancerous or malignant lesions were found in 36.43% (141/387) of AGC cases and were more commonly seen in AGC-FN than AGC-NOS (p < .001). The histopathological severity and the incidence of uterine disease were higher among AGC women aged 40 years and older than those younger than 40 years (p < .05). The possibility of the abnormal origin of glandular epithelial was higher than that of squamous epithelial in AGC patients aged 40 years and older (p = .0003).ConclusionsThe management of AGC women by age triage is reasonable because the incidence of the glandular epithelial lesion and uterine disease increases in AGC patients 40 years or older. Standardized clinical diagnosis and regular follow-up are recommended for all AGC patients.