Do atypical cells usually mean cancer?

On occasion you may see a report from a Pap test or tissue biopsy stating "atypical cells present." This might cause you to worry that this means cancer, but atypical cells aren't necessarily cancerous.

Many factors can make normal cells appear atypical, including inflammation and infection. Even normal aging can make cells appear abnormal.

Atypical cells can change back to normal cells if the underlying cause is removed or resolved. This can happen spontaneously. Or it can be the result of a specific treatment.

Atypical cells don't necessarily mean you have cancer. However, it's still important to make sure there's no cancer present or that a cancer isn't just starting to develop.

If your doctor identifies atypical cells, close follow-up is essential. In some cases, your doctor may simply monitor the atypical cells to make sure they don't become more abnormal. Other tests or scans may be useful, depending on your specific circumstances.

In other cases, your doctor may recommend a particular treatment to try to reverse the process that's causing the atypical cells. And sometimes, your doctor may need to obtain a sample of tissue — such as a biopsy — to make sure you don't have cancer or another serious condition.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Sept. 17, 2024 See more Expert Answers

See also

  2. Adjuvant therapy for cancer
  3. Alternative cancer treatments: 11 options to consider
  4. Biological therapy for cancer
  5. Biopsy procedures
  6. Blood Basics
  7. Bone marrow transplant
  8. Bone scan
  9. Cancer
  10. Cancer blood tests
  11. Cancer diagnosis: 11 tips for coping
  12. Cancer pain: Relief is possible
  13. Cancer risk: What the numbers mean
  14. Cancer surgery
  15. Cancer survival rate
  16. Cancer survivors: Care for your body after treatment
  17. Cancer survivors: Late effects of cancer treatment
  18. Cancer survivors: Managing your emotions after cancer treatment
  19. Cancer treatment
  20. Cancer treatment myths
  21. Cancer-prevention strategies
  22. Cancer-related diarrhea
  23. Cancer-related fatigue
  24. CAR-T cell therapy
  25. Chemo targets
  26. Chemotherapy
  27. Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
  28. Chemotherapy and sex: Is sexual activity OK during treatment?
  29. Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense
  30. Chemotherapy side effects: A cause of heart disease?
  31. Complete blood count (CBC)
  32. CT scan
  33. Curcumin: Can it slow cancer growth?
  34. Doppler ultrasound: What is it used for?
  35. Dysphagia
  36. Eating during cancer treatment: Tips to make food tastier
  37. Fertility preservation
  38. Health foods
  39. Heart cancer: Is there such a thing?
  40. High-dose vitamin C: Can it kill cancer cells?
  41. Honey: An effective cough remedy?
  42. How cancer spreads
  43. Infographic: Cancer Clinical Trials Offer Many Benefits
  44. Infographic: CAR-T Cell Therapy
  45. Infographic: Mayo Clinic CAR-T Cell Therapy Program
  46. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  47. Laryngitis
  48. Low blood counts
  49. Magic mouthwash
  50. Medical marijuana
  51. Mindfulness exercises
  52. Monoclonal antibody drugs
  53. Mort Crim and Cancer
  54. Mouth sores caused by cancer treatment: How to cope
  55. MRI
  56. MRI
  57. Myths about cancer causes
  58. Needle biopsy
  59. No appetite? How to get nutrition during cancer treatment
  60. Palliative care
  61. PALS (Pets Are Loving Support)
  62. PICC line placement
  63. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC)
  64. Proton beam therapy
  65. Proton therapy
  66. Radiation therapy
  67. Seeing inside the heart with MRI
  68. Self-Image During Cancer
  69. Sisters' Bone Marrow Transplant
  70. Sleep tips
  71. Small cell, large cell cancer: What this means
  72. Stem cell transplant
  73. Stem cells: What they are and what they do
  74. Stereotactic radiosurgery
  75. Tumor vs. cyst: What's the difference?
  76. Ultrasound
  77. When cancer returns: How to cope with cancer recurrence
  78. X-ray