Evaluation of atypical squamous cells on conventional cytology smears: An experience from a screening program practiced in limited resource settings.

Background: The Bethesda system (TBS) 2001 has subdivided the category of atypical squamous cells (ASC) into: ASC-US (undetermined significance) and ASC-H (cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)). The present study is an analysis of ASC-US and ASC-H cases diagnosed in a screening program practiced in limited resource settings.

Methods: During the period January 2005 to December 2008, a total of 9190 smears were received, of which 568 were unsatisfactory.