Cervix
Cytologic features
PM cells
Author: Farnaz Hasteh, M.D.
Topic Completed: 1 December 2010
Minor changes: 12 March 2020
Copyright: 2006-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: PM cells cervix
Cite this page: Hasteh F. PM cells. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cervixcytologyPMcells.html. Accessed March 3rd, 2021.
Definition / general
- Cells from PeraMenopausal women
Clinical features
- Significant cause of ASC overdiagnosis in women ages 40 to 55 years (Am J Clin Pathol 2005;124:58)
- ASCUS appears to have a particularly low positive predictive value for SIL in perimenopausal women and therefore most likely is overcalled in this age group; this may be attributable in part to air drying artifact and subtle atrophic changes (Cancer 2001;93:100)
- Reporting benign EMs for premenopausal women 40 years and older has little clinical significance (Am J Clin Pathol 2005;123:571)
- ASC-H is associated with HSIL in 22% in perimenopausal women (Am J Clin Pathol 2006;126:381)
Cytology description
- Squamous cells with enlarged, smooth, bland nuclei in perimenopausal women
- In early menopause, there is an intermediate cell maturation pattern (DeMay: The Pap Test: Exfoliative Gynecologic Cytology (1st Ed); ASCP, 2005)
