OBJECTIVES: To assess the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) associated with atypical glandular cells of endometrial origin (AGC-EM) in 2 age groups (age younger than 51 vs 51 years or older).

METHODS: A retrospective case series was assembled identifying AGC from a pathology database between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2009. Demographics, cervical cytology results, and final diagnoses (including clinically significant diseases and cancers) were recorded from the initial AGC diagnosis until August 30, 2011. Data were analyzed using the χ test to compare rates of disease between age groups.

RESULTS: Among the 444 patients with AGC, 41% (183/444) had AGC-EM. Women younger than 51 years, compared to those 51 years or older, had significantly lower rates of AGC-EM (35% [105/296] vs 53% [78/148]; p < .001; odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.74). The rate of EC was significantly lower in those younger than 51 years, compared to those aged 51 or older (5% [8/158] vs 19% [18/95]; p < .001; odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.55) in women who underwent endometrial biopsy. In women younger than 51 years who underwent an endometrial biopsy, the rate of EC had a stepwise increase across 3 subclasses of AGC (from AGC of endocervical origin [AGC-EC] to AGC not otherwise specified to AGC-EM) (p = .04).

CONCLUSIONS: Women aged 51 years or older who have AGC are more likely to have AGC-EM and EC than women younger than 51 years. In women younger than age 51, AGC-EM is the subclass most associated with EC while compared to 2 other subclasses (AGC not otherwise specified and AGC-EC).