What is transformation zone in Pap smear?
Columnar cells are constantly changing into squamous cells in an area of the cervix called the transformation (transitional) zone. The transformation zone is an area of changing cells, and it is the most common place on the cervix for abnormal cells to develop. These abnormal cells can be detected on a Pap smear.
What does transformation zone absent mean?
Transformation zone component absent. Like with “endocervical cells absent,” your pap didn’t pick up cells at the transition of the outside to the inside of your cervix. Nothing to worry about. Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy.
What is the endocervical transformation zone?
The reason is that after menopause, the cervix may be less pliable and the transformation zone (the section of the endocervical canal where squamous cells begin to change to columnar cells) moves higher up the cervical canal, making it more difficult to routinely obtain endocervical cells.
Is transformation zone normal?
The transformation zone may be described as normal when it is composed of immature and/or mature squamous metaplasia along with intervening areas or islands of columnar epithelium, with no signs of cervical carcinogenesis (1.14a).
What is the transformation zone and why is it important to sample this?
The transformation zone is the area that your doctor or nurse checks during cervical screening. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a test to pick up abnormal cervical cells. If left untreated, the abnormal cells might develop into cancer.
What does type 1 transformation zone mean?
ectocervical
(a) Type 1 TZ, which is completely ectocervical, is fully visible, and may be small or large. (b) Type 2 TZ, which has an endocervical component but is still fully visible; the ectocervical component may be small or large.
Is negative Pap smear good?
A normal (or “negative”) result means that no cell changes were found on your cervix. This is good news. But you still need to get Pap tests in the future.
Where is the transformation zone cervix?
The area where cervical cells are most likely to become cancerous is called the transformation zone. It is the area just around the opening of the cervix that leads on to the endocervical canal.
When should you not take a cervical sample?
Where triage and test of cure has taken place, a sample should not be taken before the recommended recall. The laboratory should reject samples from women who have had an unreliable HPV test repeated in less than 6 months for triage samples and less than 3 months for test of cure samples.
What does a negative smear test mean?
A normal (or “negative”) result means that no cell changes were found on your cervix. This is good news. But you still need to get Pap tests in the future. New cell changes can still form on your cervix.
What does transformation zone mean on Pap smear?
Transformation zone component present. Another phrase that means your pap sampled cells both on the surface of your cervix and inside the canal. A thorough pap test!
Do you need a transformation zone for a cervical cytology test?
Endocervical cell/transformation zone component — A notation is made regarding the presence or absence of an endocervical cell/transformation zone (EC/TZ) component, but these cells are not required for a cervical cytology test to be classified as satisfactory according to Bethesda 2001…
What does it mean when your pap smear is negative?
Transformation zone component absent. Like with “endocervical cells absent,” your pap didn’t pick up cells at the transition of the outside to the inside of your cervix. Nothing to worry about. Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy.
What is the transformation zone of the cervix?
The presence of metaplastic and endocervical cells gives an indication of the sampling of the transformation zone of the cervix (junction of squamous and glandular cells, generally at the external cervical os). The transformation zone is the area at greatest risk for neoplasia [9].
