Learning colposcopy

Colposcopic appearance of normal cervix

Normal cervical epithelium

Original squamous epithelium Columnar epithelium Squamocolumnar junction

Ectropion or ectopy Squamous metaplasia

Features of squamous metaplasia

Transformation zone

Types of transformation zone

Atrophic changes Changes during pregnancy The nulliparous and parous cervix

The colposcopic examination

Indications of colposcopy Description of a colposcope Ancillary instruments for colposcopy Consumables required for colposcopy

Preparation of acetic acid Preparation of Lugol's iodine

Colposcopy setup Steps of a colposcopic examination Inadequate colposcopy Exposing the cervix properly Using the endocervical speculum Colposcopically directed biopsy Endocervical curettage Documentation of colposcopic findings

Detection of infections & benign conditions of cervix

Cervicovaginal inflammation

Vaginal discharge Inflamed cervix

Condyloma and subclinical papillomavirus infection (SPI) The congenital transformation zone (CTZ) Ectropion or ectopy Erosion Cervical polyp Leukoplakia Cervical stenosis Cervical endometriosis Post-treatment consequences

Detection of cervical neoplasias

Identification and documentation of colposcopic abnormalities General assessment Abnormal colposcopy

Grade 1 (minor) changes Grade 2 (major) changes Grade 2 (major) changes (contd.) Non-specific changes Changes suspicious of invasion Miscellaneous changes

Calculating Swede score Diagnosing invasive cancer Diagnosing adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and adenocarcinoma Colposcopy procedure – Videos

Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Treatment by cryotherapy

Cryosurgical unit Ancillary instruments and consumables Steps Side-effects and complications Post-treatment advice and follow-up Procedure video

Treatment by thermal ablation

The benchtop model The battery-operated model Complications Procedure video

Treatment by LLETZ (LEEP)

Instruments and consumables Steps Direction of cutting: from below upwards Direction of cutting: from one side to the other Side-effects and complications Post treatment advice and follow-up Type 1 excision video Type 2 excision video Type 3 excision video

Treatment by cold-knife conization (CKC)

Instruments Instruments Steps Side effects and complications Procedure video

Cases

Normal

Normal Atrophy Changes in pregnancy

Squamous metaplasia and ectropion

Ectropion Metaplasia

Inflammation and cervicitis

Candidiasis Trichomonas vaginalis Inflammation

Low grade High grade Early and advanced cancers

Squamous cell cancer Adenocarcinoma

Miscellaneous

Cervical polyp Condyloma Congenital transformation zone Leukoplakia Stenosis of cervix

Post treatment

Post-LLETZ Post-cryotherapy Post-radiation changes

Search with IFCPC criteria Search with Swede score criteria

Quiz Foreword Acknowledgement Authors Suggested citation

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Atlas of Colposcopy: Principles and Practice

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Diagnosing invasive cancer

It is particularly important for the colposcopist to correctly diagnose invasive cancers, especially early invasive cancers. Invasive lesions will have some or all of the following features.

A large, dense acetowhite area with elevated margins in the transformation zone is suspicious of invasive cancer. The lesion may have an undulating surface, especially near the external os. The lesion often appears to impinge on the external os to block it.

The lesion may extend to the vagina for a variable distance.

Extensive vascular abnormalities are visible: atypical vessels, coarse mosaic, coarse punctation, or combinations of these.

Surface irregularity or a molehill-like undulating surface is a characteristic of invasive lesions.

A dense acetowhite area with erosion of the surface that bleeds easily is suspicious of invasive cancer, especially if it is associated with atypical blood vessels.

A thick leukoplakia patch in the transformation zone may hide an invasive cancer. A deep punch biopsy or a loop biopsy is required to establish the diagnosis.

Invasive cancer turns into an iodine-negative area with a bright canary yellow colour after application of Lugol’s iodine.

If the lesion is suspicious of invasive cancer, the distal extent of the lesion should be carefully evaluated. If the vagina is involved, both the staging and the management may be altered.