ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical significance of atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS) with abnormal DNA ploidy in the early diagnosis of cervical lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight thousand four hundred and forty-eight patients were included in this study and all had DNA quantitative analysis and cervical liquid-based cytology. Among 1041 cases with DNA aneuploidy and/or abnormal cervical liquid-based cytology and additional cervical biopsy, histological review was performed in 247 ASCUS cases with abnormal DNA ploidy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Among 8448 cases, 7877 were normal or benign, 426 were ASCUS, 45 were ASC-H, 55 were LSIL and 22 were HSIL by TBS diagnosis. The presence of 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells was detected in 15.3% (65/426) of ASCUS, 11.1% (5/45) of ASC-H, 9.1% (5/55) of LSIL, and 0 (0/22) of HSIL. The presence of ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells was detected in 39.0% (166/426) of ASCUS, 75.6% (34/45) of ASC-H, 76.4% (42/55) of LSIL, and 95.5% (21/22) of HSIL. (2) A total of 67 cases of CIN 2, CIN 3 or cancers were found in 247 patients with ASCUS by colposcopy biopsies, of which 13.9% (5/36) had 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells, 45.5% (56/123) had ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells and 6.8% (6/88) had normal DNA polidy. ASCUS with 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells and with ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells were compared. The difference was statistically significant (χ(2) = 11.79, P < 0.01). But the difference between ASCUS with 1-2 abnormal DNA ploidy cells and normal DNA ploidy had no statistical significance (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ASCUS with ≥ 3 abnormal DNA ploidy cells has higher risk for developing CIN 2, CIN 3 or invasive carcinoma. The application of DNA quantitative analysis and cervical liquid-based cytology test can help in guiding clinical follow-up and treatment options in patients with ASCUS.</p>