Colposcopy
What is a Colposcopy?
One of the most frightening times in a woman's life is when the gynecologist calls and says her Pap smear results are abnormal. Although you might think an abnormal Pap smear means you have cervical cancer, the fact is that the majority of abnormal Pap smears are not caused by cervical cancer. The more likely cause of abnormal Pap smear results is inflammation or a vaginal infection.
Because the Pap smear is a screening tool and not a diagnostic tool, your gynecologist may want to take a closer look at your cervix to determine the cause of your abnormal Pap smear results. He will perform an examination called a colposcopy.
Colposcopy is a simple and painless procedure performed in a gynecologist's office that takes 10 to 15 minutes. You are positioned on the examination table like you are for a Pap smear, and an acetic acid (such as common table vinegar) is placed on the cervix. This causes the cervical cells to fill with water so light will not pass through them.
Your physician will use a colposcope to view your cervix. A colposcope is a large, electric microscope that is positioned approximately 30 cm from the vagina. A bright light on the end of the colposcope lets the gynecologist clearly see the cervix.
During the colposcopy, the gynecologist focuses on the areas of the cervix where light does not pass through. Abnormal cervical changes are seen as white areas -- the whiter the area, the worse the cervical dysplasia. Abnormal vascular (blood vessel) changes are also apparent through the colposcope. Typically, the worse that the vascular changes are, the worse the dysplasia.
If your physician can view the entire abnormal area through the colposcope, a tissue sample or biopsy is taken from the whitest abnormal areas and sent to the lab for further evaluation.
Indications for Colposcopy
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Abnormal Papanicolaou |
Vaginal lesion |
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ASC-US |
Warts |
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ASC-US twice |
Ulcers |
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ASC-US with high risk HPV types |
Vulvar lesion |
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ASC-H |
Genital warts |
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LSIL |
Ulcer |
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HSIL |
Mole concerning for melanoma |
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AGC |
Follow-up LEEP, cryotherapy, cone biopsy |
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Cervical lesion |
Intrauterine diethylstilbestrol exposure |
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Condyloma accuminata |
Sexual partner with genital warts or condyloma accuminata |
|
Polyp |
Sexual abuse |
For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call (86-21) 5298 6339