Pap stain; Low power
Predominantly single pattern of atrophy in this example with high cellularity
Pap stain; High power
Predominantly singly present para basal cells with uniform nuclei and lack of superficial cells
Pap Smear; Low power
Predominantly single cell pattern of atrophy in this example with low cellularity
Pap stain; High power
Predominantly cohesive, syncytial cell group of para-basal cells with high N:C ratio.
Note that the cells lack pleomorphism and the chromatin is uniform
Pap stain; Medium power
Predominantly single cell pattern of basal and parabasal cells.
Note the scattered blue blobs of degenerating cells
Pap stain; High power
Numerous singly scattered parabasal cells with pink cytoplasm
Note syncytium like group of hyperchromatic cells, all of which have smooth chromatin
Pap stain; High power
Sheet of cells with high nucleus to cytoplasmic ratios; however, the cells are uniformly round and lack pleomorphism, mitosis and atypia
Note scattered histiocytes and single similar cells in background
Features
• Liquid based
• Variable cellularity
• Predominantly single cell pattern
• Occasional syncytial sheets
• Reduced/absent superficial cells
• Increased parabasal and basal cells
• Pink to pseudokeratinized cytoplasm
• High nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio may be seen
• Lack of nuclear pleomorphism
• Rounded nuclei
• Smooth chromatin
• May have nuclear grooves (transitional cell metaplasia)
• Blue blobs (Basophilic amorphous material due to parabasal cell degeneration)