Pronunciation:
Commonly pronouned AS kus • (noun)
Common Misspellings:
ASSCUS
Related Resources:
Definition:
ASCUS stands for Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance. It means
that irregular cells have shown up on a Pap smear, and they could caused by a
large number of sources. Many of the causes are transient infections or irritations
that the body will take care of on its own. Hormonal changes and medications can
also sometimes cause ASCUS results. On the other hand, this result can also be
a signal of a precancerous change (dysplasia).
Related Terms
• atypia
• dysplasia
• Pap test
• squamous
cells
Dysplasia 101
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