| After normal saline |
| After acetic acid |
| After acetic acid with green filter |
| After acetic acid |
| Visualization of the SCJ |
General assessment | |||||||||||||||||
Normal colposcopic findings | |||||||||||||||||
Abnormal colposcopic findings | |||||||||||||||||
General principles | |||||||||||||||||
Position and size | |||||||||||||||||
Grade 1 (minor)
| Grade 2 (major)
| Non-specific
| Suspicious for invasion
| Miscellaneous finding
| |
| Nil or transparent | Thin, milky | Distinct, stearin | |
| Nil or diffuse | Sharp but irregular, jagged, satellites | Sharp and even, difference in level | |
| Fine, regular | Absent | Coarse or atypical vessels | |
| < 5 mm | 5-15 mm or 2 quadrants | >15 mm, 3-4 quadrants, or endocervically undefined | |
| Brown | Faintly or patchy yellow | Distinctly yellow |
| Provisional diagnosis: | Type 3 transformation zone; suspicion of squamous cell carcinoma. |
| Management: | Multiple punch biopsies. |
| Histopathology: | Squamous cell carcinoma. |
| Comment: | Atypical vessels are better visible on acetowhite areas after 2–3 minutes of acetic acid application. A dense acetowhite area should again be evaluated with the green filter before applying Lugol’s iodine. |