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Atypical Squamous Cells (ASC) of the Cervix

Atypical squamous cells (ASC) are abnormal cells found on a Pap test, but the reason for the abnormalities is not known. The causes of ASC include infection and inflammation.

ASC is further classified as:

  • ASC of undetermined significance (ASC-US).
  • ASC but cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (ASC-H).

When a woman has ASC-US abnormalities, her health professional will probably recommend watchful waiting or human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. ASC-H abnormalities have a higher risk of being identified as more severe changes and are evaluated with colposcopy.

Last Revised: August 4, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

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