atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance


atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS),

the term in the Bethesda system for reporting cervical/vaginal cytologic diagnosis describing cellular abnormalities that are more marked than those attributable to reactive changes but that quantitatively or qualitatively fall short of a definitive diagnosis of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; may reflect a benign or a potentially serious lesion.
See also: Bethesda system, reactive changes.

a·typ·i·cal squa·mous cells of un·de·ter·mined sig·nif·i·cance

(ASCUS) (ā-tip'i-kăl skwā'mŭs sel zŭn-dĕ-tĕr'mind sig-nif'i-kăns) The term in the Bethesda system for reporting cervical-vaginal cytologic diagnosis describing cellular abnormalities that are more marked than those attributable to reactive changes but that quantitatively or qualitatively fall short of a definitive diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL); may reflect a benign or a potentially serious lesion.
See also: Bethesda system, reactive changes