Glossary

Atypia - slight changes in the cells of the cervix.

Adenocarcinoma - an uncommon form of cervical cancer involving glandular cells.

Australian Modified Bethesda System 2004 - is the terminology system for reporting cervical cytology.

Biopsy of the cervix - removal of a small piece of the cervix for examination under a microscope.

Cells - microscopic building blocks of living organisms. The body is made up of millions of cells.

Cervix - the neck of the uterus (womb) located at the top of the vagina.

Colposcopy - the examination of the cervix and vagina with a magnifying instrument called a colposcope, to check for abnormalities.

Diathermy - the use of heat applied electrically to destroy abnormal cells or to stop bleeding.

Endocervical - inside the canal of the cervix.

Glandular cells - tall, columnar cells that exist near the top of the endocervical canal. Apart from their appearance, glandular cells are also different from squamous cells as they can secrete. They make mucus which helps protect the entrance to the uterus.

Glandular lesion - abnormality involving the glandular cells of the cervix.

Gynaecological oncologist - gynaecologist who has had special training and certification in caring for women with gynaecological cancers.

Gynaecologist - a specialist in women's reproductive health.

High grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) - are more serious changes that required further investigation and sometimes treatment.
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HPV - Human Papilloma Virus - is a very common virus, with four out of five people having it at some stage in their lives. In some cases, it can increase a woman's risk of cervical cancer. However, most women with HPV do not develop cervical cancer.

Intraepithelial - within the layer of cells that form the surface or lining of a part of the body.

Intraepithelial lesion - abnormality confined to the surface layer of the cervix.

Lesion - abnormal appearing area.

Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) - are minor abnormalities which normally go away within one year.

Oncologist - a specialist in the study, management and treatment of cancer (oncology).

Screening - when a test is done on people without symptoms who are at risk of developing a certain disease. Screening tests predict the likelihood of someone having or developing a particular disease. The Pap smear is a screening procedure to look for changes that might lead to cancer of the cervix. It is up to 90 per cent accurate and the best way to prevent squamous cancer of the cervix.

Squamous cells - flat cells that look like scales or plates through a microscope. They make up the tissue that covers or lines the inside parts of the body.

Transformation zone - the area in the cervix where the squamous cells meet the glandular cells. The transformation zone is in the cervical canal.

Page currency, Latest update: 24 April, 2008