What is Pap cytology?

The HPV test checks cells for infection with high-risk HPV types. The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells and looks at them for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer. It can also detect cervical cancer cells.

Are cytology and Pap smear the same thing?

For many years, cytology-based screening, known as the Pap test or Pap smear, was the only method of screening. Its use reduced cervical cancer incidence and deaths in countries where screening is common.

What is a lesion on a Pap smear?

Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions look slightly abnormal when looked at under a microscope. They are usually caused by infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and are found when a Pap test or biopsy is done.

Why did my doctor order a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is used to find cancerous cells or abnormal cells that can become cancerous in the cervix, vagina, or vulva. These abnormal cells are sometimes called “precancerous tissue.” A colposcopy also looks for other health conditions, such as genital warts or noncancerous growths called polyps.

Does negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy mean no HPV?

Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) means that no pre-cancerous or cancerous cells were seen in your Pap smear. It is a normal result.

What is the difference between cervical screening and Pap smear?

For both tests a doctor or nurse takes a sample of cells from the cervix. However, the Pap smear test used to look for abnormal cells in the cervix, while the cervical screening test looks for HPV infection. It is a quick and simple test used to check for HPV infection.

Do cervical lesions go away?

Cervical dysplasia lesions can regress (which means they shrink and may even disappear), persist (the lesions remain present but don’t change), or progress to become a high-grade lesion or cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is an abnormal growth of the cells of the cervix.

Is a lesion a tumor?

A bone lesion is considered a bone tumor if the abnormal area has cells that divide and multiply at higher-than-normal rates to create a mass in the bone. The term “tumor” does not indicate whether an abnormal growth is malignant (cancerous) or benign, as both benign and malignant lesions can form tumors in the bone.

What is negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy?

A Pap test finding that means no cancer cells or other abnormal cells have been found on the surface of or in the tissue that lines the cervix. Cell changes that suggest inflammation or infection may be included in this finding.

What causes HPV virus?

HPV causes The virus that causes HPV infection is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Most people get a genital HPV infection through direct sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Because HPV is a skin-to-skin infection, intercourse isn’t required for transmission to occur.