Objective: Pap smear test is a commonly used and effective screening method in detection of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. There is a very limited number of studies on use of Pap smears in diagnosis of the endometrial carcinomas. We have aimed to investigate the incidence rate of atypical endometrial cells in Pap smears of the patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma and the correlation between these cells and clinicopathological parameters.

Material and methods: In this study, patients who were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma and who had smear sampling between January 2015 and September 2017 were examined retrospectively. Histological type, nuclear grade and Pap smear results of endometrial carcinoma cases were evaluated.

Results: Pap smear sampling was concurrently performed in 59 of the 97 patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma. The ages of the patients who underwent smear sampling ranged between 42 and 82 years (mean 57.43±9.08 years). The menopausal status evaluation of the women revealed that 12 (20.3%) and 47 (79.7%) patients were premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively. Endometrioid type carcinoma was encountered in 51 (86.4%) patients as the most commonly found histological type. Serous, clear cell and mucinous carcinomas were determined in 6 (10%), 1 (1.8%) and 1 (1.8%) patients, respectively. The results of Pap smear tests were atypical in 24 (40.7%) patients whereas normal results were obtained in 35 (59.3%) patients. Nuclear grade assessment of the carcinomas showed that grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 carcinomas were discovered in 24 (40.7%), 25 (42.3%) and 10 (17%) patients, respectively. The rate of the atypical endometrial cells encountered by Pap smears has increased as grade of the tumors increased.

Conclusion: We have concluded that the detection rate of atypical cells by Pap smear in endometrial carcinomas is considerably high. The incidence of atypical cells is higher in nonendometrioid and high-grade carcinomas.