Abn PAP, Abn Biopsy-no symptoms, no risks

[leftinthedark]

I recently received the results of my annual PAP  which indicated endometrial cells and was scheduled for a biopsy which was also read as abnormal.  I'm 45 years old, am not overweight, am not having any abnormal bleeding or cramping, and have never been on tamoxifen. I'm thin and when I lay on my back I can palpate two less than golf ball size massess in my lower abdomen primarily on the right side.  I'm negative for HPV and can't seem to get any answers.  They want to scheduled a D &C and hysteroscopy.  My husband works in a foreign country and won't be back for a month, we have two young children and my grandmother died of "female" cancer (no one seems to know what kind).  How worried should I be?

[Meenakshi Sahu, M.D., D.N.B., M.R.C.O.G.]

Dear leftinthedark,

A family history of female cancer puts you at a higher risk compared to other woman. You should have an ultrasound scan of the abdomen to know from where the two masses on the right side of your lower  abdomen are arising and what they are. With abnormal Papanicolaou smear and biopsy, if your doctor has advised hysteroscopy and D and C (dilatation and curettage), I believe that you should go for it. It is small day care procedure and most probably you will be discharged from hospital within a few hours.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.

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Best Regards,
Dr. Meenakshi Titoria Sahu

[mayuri65]

I am 46 years old female having brown discharge (after the end of my 25 days regular m.c.) from last two years,  i have done US pelvis(multiple intramural fibroids in the uterus with resultant distortion of its contour)  and biopsy of cervix which is normal. I have two daughters studying in college.  What can be the cause of this brown discharge? and what is the treatment for it or it is a symptom of menopause? Please guide.

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Just a brief additional comment for you--
If your pap smear was done just before or after your period, that is a very common reason for endometrial cells to be discovered on the pap.  This is then reported back to the doctor as abnormal.  In the vast majority of cases there is no abnormality, so just thought I would throw in a bit of reassurance for you!
Dr B