What does atrophic changes mean in a Pap smear?

What does atrophic changes mean in a Pap smear?

Sometimes after menopause or when breast feeding there are ‘atrophic changes’ in the cervix, caused by decreased hormone levels. If your Pap smear result is ‘atrophic’ you may be given some local oestrogen treatment (for example, oestrogen cream) and asked to have the Pap smear repeated in three months.

What does benign squamous epithelium mean?

Squamous metaplasia is a benign non-cancerous change (metaplasia) of surfacing lining cells (epithelium) to a squamous morphology.

What is squamous mucosa of the cervix?

The surface of the cervix is made up of two different types of cells: squamous epithelial cells (the lining cells of the outer part of the cervix, or ectocervix) columnar epithelial cells (the lining cells of the inner part of the cervix, or endocervix)

What does squamous cell in Pap smear mean?

Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance is the most common abnormal finding in a Pap test. It may be a sign of infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) or other types of infection, such as a yeast infection.

What are atrophic changes?

Vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis) is thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls that may occur when your body has less estrogen. Vaginal atrophy occurs most often after menopause. For many women, vaginal atrophy not only makes intercourse painful but also leads to distressing urinary symptoms.

What does atrophic mean?

atrophy, decrease in size of a body part, cell, organ, or other tissue. The term implies that the atrophied part was of a size normal for the individual, considering age and circumstance, prior to the diminution.

Is squamous mucosa cancerous?

This is called squamous mucosa. Squamous cells are flat cells that look similar to fish scales when viewed under the microscope. Squamous carcinoma of the esophagus is a type of cancer that arises from the squamous cells that line the esophagus.

Is squamous mucosa normal?

The mucosa of the normal esophagus is composed of squamous cells similar to those of the skin or mouth. The normal squamous mucosal surface appears whitish-pink in color, contrasting sharply with the salmon pink to red appearance of the gastric mucosa, which is composed of columnar cells.

What does benign cellular changes mean?

A Bethesda System term for classifying pap smears, for changes seen by light microscopy that are not malignant, premalignant or induced by HPV. Examples. Reactive reparative or inflammation-related changes, and atrophic cervicitis or vaginitis.

How is atrophy treated?

Getting regular exercise and trying physical therapy may reverse this form of muscle atrophy. People can treat muscle atrophy by making certain lifestyle changes, trying physical therapy, or undergoing surgery. In this article, we look at some other causes, symptoms, and treatments of muscle atrophy.

How is atrophy causes?

Muscle atrophy is when muscles waste away. It’s usually caused by a lack of physical activity. When a disease or injury makes it difficult or impossible for you to move an arm or leg, the lack of mobility can result in muscle wasting.

What is squamous mucosa in esophagus?

It is called squamous mucosa when the top layer is made up of squamous cells. Squamous cells are flat cells that look similar to fish scales when viewed under the microscope. Most of the esophagus is lined by squamous mucosa.

What is squamous hyperplasia of the oral mucosa?

Squamous hyperplasia of the oral mucosa is usually seen on the palate ( Figure 1 , Figure 2 , and Figure 3 ) or gingiva ( Figure 4 ). Squamous hyperplasia is characterized by increased numbers of squamous cells resulting in increased thickness of the squamous epithelium, which may be diffuse or plaque-like or form blunt papillary projections.

What is the pathophysiology of squamous cell hyperplasia?

). Squamous hyperplasia is characterized by increased numbers of squamous cells resulting in increased thickness of the squamous epithelium, which may be diffuse or plaque-like or form blunt papillary projections. Hyperkeratosis is frequently seen with squamous cell hyperplasia.

What are squamous intraepithelial lesions?

Squamous cells often are involved in abnormal Pap smears, as in a diagnosis of ASCUS ( A typical S quamous C ells of U ndetermined S ignificance ), 2 which indicates the presences of unusual cells that are not clearly benign or bad. Potentially pre-cancerous, abnormal Pap smear results are sometimes diagnosed as squamous intraepithelial lesions.