From Tracee Cornforth,
Your Guide to Women's Health.
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What do my Pap smear results mean?

ASCUS

aytypia squamous cells of undetermined significance. Squamous cells are the thin flat cells that form on the surface of the cervix. Considered a mild abnormality.

LSIL

low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The word lesion refers to an area of abnormal tissue; intraepithelial means that the abnormal cells are present only in the surface layer of cells. Considered a mild abnormality.

HSIL

high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. This is a severe abnormality that has a higher likelihood of progressing to invasive cancer. But remember, this is not cancer! Follow up as suggested by your physician has a good chance of reversing this result before it becomes cancerous.

SIL

squamous intraepithelial lesion. See above definitions.

Dysplasia

used to describe abnormal cells. Although dysplasia is not cancer, it may develop into early cervical cancer. These abnormal cells do not invade nearby healthy tissue. Dysplasia may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the degree of abnormality of the cells. Sometimes these 3 types of dysplasia may be classified as:

• Mild dysplasia - LSIL or CIN 1
  
  
• Moderate dysplasia - HSIL or CIN 2
  
  
• Severe dysplasia - HSIL or CIN 3

CIN

cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Sometimes used to describe abnormal cells. Neoplasia means a new abnormal growth of cells. CIN 1, CIN 2, or CIN 3 describe how much of the cervix contains abnormal cells.

Carcinoma in situ

pre-invasive cancer. This cancer involves only the surface cells and has not spread into deeper tissue. Carcinoma in situ is sometimes classified as HSIL or CIN3.

Next pageMore Pap smear terminology and common causes page 1, 2, 3