Correlation between endometrial cells on Papanicolaou smear and endometrial carcinoma

Background. A retrospective study was done to assess the correlation between endometrial cells on routine cervical cytology and carcinoma of the endometrium. Methods.. In a 4-year period, endometrial cells of some type were identified on the Papanicolaou (Pap) smears of 61 women, of whom 52 had further diagnostic evaluation of the endometrium. Data were analyzed with a multivariate stepwise logistic regression. Results. The results indicated an association of endometrial cells in Pap smears with carcinoma of the endometrium in seven patients (13.5%). In 45 patients (86.5%), the final diagnosis was benign. Factors that impacted the diagnosis of carcinoma were the findings of atypical or cancerous endometrial cells on Pap smear and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Conclusions. These data indicate the importance of further diagnostic evaluation with endometrial sampling in postmenopausal patients with endometrial cells seen in Pap smears, especially those with abnormal bleeding.