ascus
noun
as·cus
| \ ˈas-kəs
\
\
plural asci\ ˈas-ˌkī
, -ˌkē , ˈa-ˌsī \
, -ˌkē , ˈa-ˌsī \
Definition of ascus
: the membranous oval or tubular spore case of an ascomycete
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More Definitions for ascus
ascus
noun
as·cus
| \ ˈas-kəs
\
\
plural asci\ ˈas-ˌ(k)ī
, -ˌkē
\
, -ˌkē
\
Medical Definition of ascus
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the membranous oval or tubular sporangium of an ascomycete
ASCUS
abbreviation
variants:
also AS-CUS
Medical Definition of ASCUS (Entry 2 of 2)
atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
Note: ASCUS is a diagnosis used in cytology to describe the presence of abnormal squamous cells in a Pap smear test. Upon staining, these cells exhibit an atypical appearance (as enlarged nuclei or irregular shape) that cannot definitively be classified as benign or precancerous.
Many physicians believe that combining the Pap test with direct virus testing may prove particularly useful when a pap test comes back with its most common indeterminate result, called ASCUS—atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.— Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 13 Sept. 1999 Currently, there is no consensus on what to do with ASCUS patients, only 5% to 10% of whom actually have precancerous cells.— Rita Rubin, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2001