piperpilot

A PAP is a screen test. A cytologist exmines the cells collected in the media--either liquid or on a slide, then looks for abnormalities at the cellular level. Cytologist cannot see your vagina or cervix and therefore can only report that the cells that he looked at showed dysplastic abnormality (low grade or high grade)(which is not to be confused with low-risk or high risk OR mild or moderate or severe), or other un-determined abnomality (ASCUS-US). If the cytologist finds any dysplastic cells, he will grade the change as high-grade or low-grade. Both are dysplasia and require further follow-up, but it is somewhat subjective, that is, any two cytologists may interpret the same cellular change differently. Your Dr therefore cannot tell you conclusively how deep into the epithelium (cervical skin) these cell are found, or if they have invaded the stroma (tissue below the epithilium--which would indicate cervical cancer) until a biopsy is done and read by a pathologist. If you have had regular PAPS, and not previously had any dysplasia, the chances of these cells having penetrated into the stroma is VERY SLIM because the process usually takes many years to advance, if it does at all. To answer your question, no, the only way a PAP result could suggest CIN 1,2,3 or cancer would be the presence of dysplastic cells.