Clinical Triage and Treatment of Atypical Glandular Cells (AGC) Detected in Screening: Randomized Healthservices Trial

Evidence from a nationwide cohort study demonstrated that the risk of cervical cancer following a diagnosis of AGC detected in screening was elevated for 15 years, particularly the risk of adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the study suggested that compared to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) management, the management of AGC has been suboptimal in Sweden (Wang et al., BMJ 2016). A study conducted in the greater metropolitan region of Stockholm showed that the PPV for high grade lesions was 60% for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) positive AGC detected in screening (Norman et al., BMJ Open, 2017).

The new guidelines for cervical cancer prevention were adopted in January of 2017 nationally and in December 2017 in county of Stockholm and outline a clinical management strategy for AGC. The recommendation is that AGC detected in screening, regardless of HPV status, should be referred to a gynecologist for colposcopy with biopsy within 3 months of the index test. For women over the age of 40, an ultrasound and endometrial biopsy is also recommended. Repeat tests should be done at one year and two years, if these are negative then the woman can return to routine screening.

The elevated risk for high grade lesions and cancer associated with AGC, coupled with the reality that cervical cancer incidence has increased in Sweden, begs a new evaluation of the optimal clinical management and treatment of AGC detected in screening. Women will be randomized to routine management according to the new guidelines or to an alternative management.