Using Human Papillomavirus (HPV) detection tests for cervical cancer screening and managing HPV-positive women – a practical guide / Activity 7

Steps to determine eligibility for ablative treatment – Criteria used to determine eligibility for ablative treatment

  


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Ablative treatment can be used to treat an abnormal transformation zone or a normal transformation zone in an HPV-positive woman provided the following criteria are fulfilled:

  • The squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) should be fully visible and should be on the ectocervix or at the external os.
  • If there is a visible lesion, it should be on the ectocervix without any extension to the endocervix or to the vagina.
  • If there is a visible lesion, it should not occupy more than 75% of the ectocervix.
  • The size of the transformation zone or the size and location of the lesion (when a lesion is present) should be such that it can be fully covered by the tip of the largest cryotherapy probe (applicable for cryotherapy only).
  • There should not be any suspicion of invasive cancer.
  • There should not be any suspicion of adenocarcinoma in situ (e.g. a cytology report suggesting abnormal glandular cells).


Please note that an HPV-positive cervix may appear normal even after application of acetic acid. Some of the criteria mentioned above will not be applicable.