Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
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 or inflammation.
ASC is further classified as:
- ASC of undetermined significance (ASC-US).
- ASC but cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (ASC-H).
If you have ASC-US abnormalities, your 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.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: December 28, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
