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Pap Test Health Article

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Table of Contents
Definition Purpose Precautions Description Preparation Aftercare Risks Normal results Terminology Changes of unknown cause Dysplasia Cancer BOOKS PERIODICALS ORGANIZATION OTHER KEY TERMS
Author Info: Laura J. Ninger, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 2002
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KEY TERMS

Carcinoma in situ—Malignant cells that are present only in the outer layer of the cervix.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)—A term used to categorize degrees of dysplasia arising in the epithelium, or outer layer, of the cervix.

Dysplasia—Abnormal changes in cells.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)—The most common STD in the United States. Various types of HPV are known to cause cancer.

Neoplasia—Abnormal growth of cells, which may lead to a neoplasm, or tumor.

Squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL)—A term used to categorize the severity of abnormal changes arising in the squamous, or outermost, layer of the cervix.

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The Pap test is a procedure used to detect abnormal growth of cervical cells which may be a precursor to cancer of the cervix. It is administered by a physician who inserts a speculum into the vagina to open and separate the vaginal walls. A spatula is then inserted to scrape cells from the cervix. These cells are transferred onto glass slides for laboratory analysis. The Pap test may also identify vaginitis, some sexually transmitted diseases, and cancers of the uterus and ovaries. (Illustration by Electronic Illustrators Group.)
The Pap test is a ... 		These malignant cells were taken from a woman's cervix during a Pap test. (Photograph by Parviz M. Pour, Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.)
These malignant ce...

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