Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Colposcopy”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

The borderline cervical smear: colposcopic and biopsy outcome.

AIMS: To review the outcome of women referred with smears showing borderline nuclear change (BNC), and to determine any differences in outcome if BNC was persistent, preceded by dyskaryosis, or followed treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). In addition, to determine criteria that might permit delineation of a BNC subtype, predictive of CIN. METHODS: The records of 178 women referred for colposcopy in 1993, with last smear showing BNC, were obtained from our laboratory database. The cytology, colposcopy, and biopsy follow up for a five year period were also obtained. The patients were divided into three categories according to their smear status before the last referral borderline smear: category 1, persistent BNC (n = 39); category 2, BNC preceded by dyskaryotic smears (n = 100); and category 3, BNC after treatment for CIN (n = 39). The referral borderline smears were reviewed on cases with negative outcome and those with a biopsy diagnosis of CIN2 and CIN3. RESULTS: In 50 women (28%) no biopsy was deemed necessary after colposcopic assessment. The biopsy results in the remaining 128 (72%) women were as follows: normal in 18 (10%), koilocytosis in 12 (7%), CIN1 in 45 (25%), CIN2 in 32 (18%), and CIN3 in 21 (12%) women. High grade lesions (CIN2, CIN3) were seen on biopsy in 14 of 39, 33 of 100, and six of 39 cases in category 1, category 2, and category 3, respectively. Blind review of the referral borderline smears from 53 women with a biopsy diagnosis of high grade lesions (32 CIN2, 21 CIN3) confirmed they were borderline in 23, upgraded them to mild dyskaryosis in 15, and found that 14 cases of isolated moderate or severe dyskaryotic cells had been missed originally. The borderline change was in mature squamous cells in five of 23 and in immature metaplastic epithelium in 18 of 23 cases. After smear review in 68 women with negative outcome, 36 smears were reclassified as negative in keeping with inflammation and atrophy, three were considered unsatisfactory, one was upgraded to CIN1, and 28 were confirmed as BNC. Of the latter, 25 of 28 were in mature squamous cells. The five year follow up on women with negative colposcopy (n = 50), negative loop excision of transformation zone (LETZ) (n = 18), and LETZ with koilocytosis (n = 12) showed subsequent high grade CIN on LETZ in 16, 0, and two patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: On referral of women for colposcopy with last smear showing BNC, the outcome was high grade CIN in over 30% of cases, irrespective of whether the borderline smear was preceded by another borderline smear or by a dyskaryotic smear. In contrast, in those referred because of BNC after treatment of CIN, high grade CIN was seen less frequently (15% of cases). Furthermore, in cases that necessitated loop excisions, high grade CIN was seen in 41%. This study also showed that BNC associated with inflammation or atrophy, or BNC in mature squamous cells, appears to have lower predictive value for CIN than those cases where BNC is associated with immature metaplastic epithelium. The use of terms such as "BNC favour reactive" for the former and "BNC favour dyskaryosis" for the latter is recommended, together with follow up by cytology and colposcopy, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance: analysis of microbiology, cytological criteria and clinical conduct.

AIMS: To differentiate between two types of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS): probably neoplastic (PN) or probably reactive (PR), and, in accordance with the recommendations on screening protocols of the Emilia-Romagna Region (PSRER), Italy, to define the best management to follow and the prognosis. Furthermore, the associations between ASCUS and infectious agents and human papillomavirus (HPV) were evaluated. METHODS: Fifty-eight ASCUS smears were reviewed and sorted; if a diagnosis of ASCUS was confirmed, the smear was classified as PR or PN, and the PSRER group was identified. Then, colposcopy was performed with checks for infectious agents (culture evaluation with cytological or clinical criteria) and HPV (hybrid capture). RESULTS: The ASCUS frequency was 3.96%. Of the 58 cases, 33 (56.9%) were diagnosed as ASCUS on review, of which 15 cases were PN and 18 were PR, while 23 (39.7%) smears were normal and 2 (3.4%) showed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). There was a higher frequency of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and HPV in ASCUS PR patients compared with normal cytology, and a higher frequency of CIN in ASCUS PN patients compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). By grouping ASCUS 1 and 3, we observed a higher frequency of CIN and of high-grade colposcopy findings compared with ASCUS 2 and 4 (P < 0.05). From the 23 cases not found to be ASCUS, 18 (87.5%) had normal cytology and colposcopy results on the first follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Classification of ASCUS as either PN or PR helps in clinical conduct and prognosis, because a higher frequency of CIN is found in ASCUS PN. ASCUS subdivisions, based on PSRER and colposcopy, may facilitate the clinical conduct because ASCUS 1 and 3 with high-grade colposcopic findings proved to be related to the presence of CIN. We propose that initial ASCUS cytology be reviewed, and if it is confirmed, colposcopy should be performed. For those cases found to be normal on review of the cytology results, it is suggested that a cytological check-up be carried out every 6 months.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1999

Colposcopic diagnosis: clinical aspects and experiences.

Colposcopy can be applied as an integral part of every gynecologic examination in concert with cytology; to identify and localize lesions suspected on the basis of abnormal cytology findings; and to clarify the nature of clinically suspicious lesions. This implies using colposcopy to clarify the nature of cervical changes seen with the naked eye. This practice is superior to colposcopy which is restricted to evaluating abnormal smears because it can pick up some lesions missed by cytology. But it is not as effective as routine colposcopy because it can miss lesions not picked up by gross inspection of the cervix and because there is no opportunity to inspect the lower tract of the cervical canal. Considering that only 15-20% of lesions are purely endocervical, not too much time is wasted by examining these cases. If colposcopy is limited to evaluating grossly suspicious lesions, then its role is merely to avoid unnecessary biopsies.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2003

Histopathologic extent of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 lesions in the atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion triage study: implications for subject safety and lead-time bias.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) is the precursor of mostsquamous carcinomas and serves as a surrogate end point. However, small CIN3 lesions are rarely associated with concurrent invasion. We hypothesized that aggressive follow-up for cytology of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) leads predominantly to detection of smaller CIN3 lesions than those usually associated with cancer. We assessed this hypothesis in a masked histopathologic review of 330 CIN3 lesions in the ASCUS LSILTriage Study, focusing on ASCUS referrals. ASCUS referrals underwent randomized management [colposcopy for repeat cytology of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), colposcopy for oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) detection or repeat HSIL, or immediate colposcopy]; then all were followed with repeat cytology for 2 years, followed by colposcopy and aggressive treatment. We assessed all CIN3 lesions qualitatively and measured 39 of them. CIN3 lesions were overwhelmingly small. Compared with enrollment, lesions found at follow-up or exit involved fewer tissue fragments (P < 0.01) and showed less diffuse gland involvement (P = 0.03). CIN3 lesions found postenrollment after HPV testing involved the fewest tissue fragments [versus immediate colposcopy (P = 0.04) or repeat cytology of HSIL (P = 0.02)], and none showed diffuse gland involvement. The median distal-proximal length was 6.5 mm (median replacement of total epithelium = 5%) in the 39 measured cases. We conclude that CIN3 lesions underlying ASCUS or LSIL generally lack features associated with invasion, particularly if managed using HPV testing, suggesting that aggressive management leads to early detection of CIN3 but probably prevents relatively few cancers in screened populations.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Is direct large loop electric excision for the transformation zone reasonable in the investigation of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in cervical smears?

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate women with cytological high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) who received standard colposcopic evaluation and direct diagnostic large loop electric excision for the transformation zone (LLETZ) to determine the feasibility of using LLETZ alone (ie, skipping the colposcopic examination). METHODS: From May 1999 to May 2001, 70 women, with the mean age of 49.58 years (range, 20-82 years) and with cervical HGSIL categorized by the Bethesda system were all evaluated by colposcopic evaluation and LLETZ. Cases with a satisfactory colposcopy examination were classified as group A and those with an unsatisfactory colposcopy examination were classified as group B. "Over-treatment" was determined if the women did not need further LLETZ for evaluation or management. "Under-treatment" was determined if treatment might be potentially inadequate or invasive cancer could be ruled out during a satisfactory colposcopic evaluation. RESULTS: Group A consisted of ten women who were evaluated satisfactorily by colposcopy and group B consisted of 30 women who were not evaluated satisfactorily by colposcopy. Overall 8.6% of the patients (6/70) were considered "over-treated". The rate of over-treatment was 10.0% (4/40) in group A compared with 6.7% (2/30) in group B. In contrast, overall 10% of the patients (7/70) were considered "under-treated". The rate of under-treatment was 10% (1/40) in group A compared with 10% (3/30), in group B. The positive predictive values of group A and B were 90.6% and 88.0%, respectively. The negative predictive values were 33.2% and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Direct diagnostic and therapeutic LLETZ for the management of cervical HGSIL may be a better alternative to colposcopy. This method of treatment avoids the possibility of under-treatment and is associated with an acceptable over-treatment rate, especially for postmenopausal women with cytological HGSIL. LLETZ has a good diagnostic accuracy with minimal morbidity and, most importantly, may help reduce patient anxicty, although further studies are needed to directly examine this effect.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Colposcopic, cytologic and histologic changes in the uterine cervix caused by human papilloma viruses].

This study is an evaluation of 485 histological findings of directed biopsies, which were performed due to the cytological state of dysplasia (IIIA and IIIB) or an abnormal colposcopy finding. The analysis of cervical smears showed 18.4% of the patients to have koilocytosis, whereas 6.8% of them had colposcopically recognized cervical condyloma. The samples obtained by biopsy underwent histological examination, which confirmed koilocytotic changes in 8.5% of cases, i. e. in significantly lower percentage than indicated by cytology (t = 4.500; p < 0.001). Colposcopy findings of condyloma, on the other hand, were confirmed much more often (60.6% compared to 31.5%; t = 3.163, p < 0.001, i. e. the difference is statistically significant). Pathohistological examination verified 68.3% of cytologically recognized cases of koilocytosis, compared to 48.8% of cytologically recognized cases of koilocytosis, compared to 48.8% of those discovered by colposcopy--the difference is not significant (t = 1.822; p > 0.05). However, the joint implementation of cytology and colposcopy revealed 85.4% of koilocytoses. Compared to the results of colposcopy as the single method, the difference is statistically significant (t = 3.812; p < 0.001), but compared to cytology it is not (t = 1.879; p > 0.05). Koilocytosis is significantly more frequent in women under 35 years of age (82.9%; t = 4.218, p < 0.001) and the patients suffering from it are also much more likely to have dysplasia or CIS than those with no HPV infection (58.5% compared to 42.4%; t = 2.012, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

National survey of the quality of 2nd level in screening for cervical cancer.

We collected, from the local registration systems of Italian organised cervical screening programmes, aggregated data (a) on the correlation between colposcopic grading and histology in routine colposcopies and (b) on treatment performed for screen-detected biopsy-proven cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN). We obtained data on colpo-histological correlation from 40 programmes, reporting on 12,901 colposcopies, classified according to the 1990 international classification. Among them 37% were classified as normal and 25% as unsatisfactory (transformation zone not entirely visible). CIN1 or more severe histology was detected in 2273/4140 (65%) colposcopies classified as grade 1. CIN2 or more severe histology was detected in 566/853 (66.4%) colposcopies classified as grade 2. Of all women with CIN2 or more severe histology 42% had a colposcopy classified as grade 2 or higher. We obtained data on treatment from 57 programmes. Of the 2123 CIN1 cases 63% had follow-up only. However 20 (0.9%) had cold-knife conisation, 2 (0.1%) had hysterectomy and 191 (9.0%) were treated by diathermo-coagulation. Of the 1600 women with diagnosis of CIN2 or CIN3 4.2% had not been treated when data were collected and no data were available for another 8.2%. Electrosurgical excision was the most common treatment in these women (79% of those with known treatment). Some 0.7% of all CIN2 and 5.1% of all CIN3 had hysterectomy. Some 12% of the 111 invasive carcinoma, plausibly microinvasive, had excisional treatment only.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1990

Aggressive evaluation for atypical squamous cells in Papanicolaou smears.

A retrospective study was done on women who had atypical Papanicolaou smears and were referred for immediate colposcopy. The smears were obtained during January 1985 to March 1989 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Excluded from the evaluation were abnormal Papanicolaou smears with hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and koilocytotic atypia suggestive of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The evaluation included colposcopy, colposcopically directed biopsies, endocervical curettage and repeat Papanicolaou smears. A total of 101 patients were included in the study. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was seen in 29.7% (30 patients): 12.9% (13) CIN I, 12.9% (13) CIN II and 3.9% (4) CIN III. Carcinoma was seen in 3.9% (4) of the patients: 2.9% (3) was carcinoma in situ, and 0.99% (1) was invasive squamous cell carcinoma, stage IIb. HPV and dysplastic lesions were seen together in 19.8% (20) of the patients. HPV was seen alone in 45% (46). Twenty-one patients (20.8%) had no apparent lesions on colposcopy, although one developed microinvasive keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma within 36 months of colposcopy. Many significant lesions can go undetected for extended periods of time in women with atypical Papanicolaou smears, resulting in delayed management. Referral for immediate colposcopy is advocated strongly.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Invasive cancer following outpatient evaluation and therapy for cervical disease.

Factors relating to the inappropriate therapy of 66 cases of cervical cancer are reviewed. The patients are divided into 2 major categories: 1) 33 who underwent cryosurgery or hot cautery without colposcopy; 2) 9 who underwent colposcopy without outpatient therapy; and 3) 24 who underwent colposcopy followed by outpatient therapy. Of the patients who had outpatient therapy without colposcopy, the major indication for treatment was "cervicitis," and all had a normal Papanicolaou smear. Of the 33 patients who underwent colposcopy because of an abnormal Papanicolaou smear, the proper treatment evaluation was carried out in only 5. The endocervical curettage (ECC) was omitted in 17 patients; no biopsies were taken in 8 patients; and conization of the cervix was omitted in 3 patients who had a positive ECC. Recommendations are made to minimize the inappropriate use of the outpatient approach in patients with cervical disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Assessing colposcopic skills: the instructor's handbook.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the United States, 93% of family practice residency programs teach colposcopy. Training should ideally include didactic teaching of basic knowledge, followed by practice on models and then supervised teaching with patients. Although various curricula have been published that outline basic principles of colposcopy education, methods of determining clinical competency among resident physicians are lacking. Methods of assessing psychomotor are cognitive skills in colposcopy are available for instructors, including the use of preclinical cervical practice models for colposcopic biopsy and endocervical curettage, visual skills tests that use images of colposcopic findings, colposcopy CD-ROMs, written pretest and posttest knowledge assessment instruments, and procedural checklists. Specific parameters for many of these tools can be used to define clinical competency in colposcopy.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1998

[Cytologic correlation between the Bethesda system and colposcopic biopsy].

Bethesda system is useful in the citologic diagnosis of premalign diseases of cervix. It was determined the correlation between citologic report using Bethesda system and combined colposcopic index (CCI) or Reid, to diagnose premalign diseases of cervix by histologic diagnostic of punch biopsy by colposcopy. A total of 118 patients come to the colposcopy clinic having smear anormal citology to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), only o associated to HPV. It was taken to all of them a new cervical smear, colposcopy and punch biopsy. We analized the findings for citology with Bethesda system and colpospic with CCI of Reid, using histologic diagnosis of punch biopsy by colposcopy. Diagnosis correlation between Bethesda system and the punch biopsy by colposcopy was 98.5% for 82 patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions with a concordance of 100% for HPV and 97% for CNI I (p < 0.05). In the other hand 92% from 36 patients classified as high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions with a concordance of 84% to CIN II and 100% to CIN III (p < .05) Sensibility of 93%, especifidad and positive predictive value of 96% and negative predictive value of 98%. We conclude correlation between citologic report with Bethesda system and the Combined Colposcopic Index of Reid which are effective to diagnose premalign disease of cervix.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2000

Photodetection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia using 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced porphyrin fluorescence.

BACKGROUND: Screening for cervical carcinoma and its precursors is based on cervical cytology and diagnostic colposcopy. Despite the decrease in the incidence of cervical carcinoma in countries with a good screening program, this rate of decline is leveling off. Known problems are false-negative rates of cytology and low specificity of colposcopy. This clinical study examined the diagnostic potential of porphyrin fluorescence in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Grade 1-3 (CIN 1-3). METHODS: Sixty-eight women attending our colposcopy clinic underwent a gynecologic examination, including cytology, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and colposcopy. They received 10 mL 0.5% or 1.0% 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) topically. After 30-360 minutes, real-time image analysis was performed, and spectra were obtained from 685 sites. RESULTS: Due to rapid photobleaching, 0.5% 5-ALA proved ineffective for fluorescence assessment. Using 1% 5-ALA, the authors found that fluorescence intensities correlated with incubation time; however, fluorescence contrast showed a maximum at 60-90 minutes (ratio 11:1). HPV DNA positive lesions showed significantly higher fluorescence. Fluorescence imaging after 60-90 minutes achieved similar sensitivity and specificity compared with colposcopy in detecting CIN with 94% and 51% versus 95% and 50%, respectively. However, the specificity was markedly improved by fluorescence spectroscopy, achieving 75%. The evaluation of spectral measurements revealed significantly higher values for CIN compared with normal tissue and for CIN 2/3 compared with CIN 1 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Using a time interval of 60-90 minutes after topical application of 1% 5-ALA, the authors observed specific porphyrin fluorescence of CIN. Fluorescence spectroscopy promises to become a valuable tool for the diagnosis of CIN.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Fluorescence spectroscopy for diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix.

OBJECTIVE: To calculate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for fluorescence spectroscopy in order to measure its performance in the diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and to compare these curves with those for other diagnostic methods: colposcopy, cervicography, speculoscopy, Papanicolaou smear screening, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. DATA SOURCES: Data from our previous clinical study were used to calculate ROC curves for fluorescence spectroscopy. Curves for other techniques were calculated from other investigators' reports. To identify these, a MEDLINE search for articles published from 1966 to 1996 was carried out, using the search terms "colposcopy," "cervicoscopy," "cervicography," "speculoscopy," "Papanicolaou smear," "HPV testing," "fluorescence spectroscopy," and "polar probe" in conjunction with the terms "diagnosis," "positive predictive value," "negative predictive value," and "receiver operating characteristic curve." METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We found 270 articles, from which articles were selected if they reported results of studies involving high-disease-prevalence populations, reported findings of studies in which colposcopically directed biopsy was the criterion standard, and included sufficient data for recalculation of the reported sensitivities and specificities. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: We calculated ROC curves for fluorescence spectroscopy using Bayesian and neural net algorithms. A meta-analytic approach was used to calculate ROC curves for the other techniques. Areas under the curves were calculated. Fluorescence spectroscopy using the neural net algorithm had the highest area under the ROC curve, followed by fluorescence spectroscopy using the Bayesian algorithm, followed by colposcopy, the standard diagnostic technique. Cervicography, Papanicolaou smear screening, and HPV testing performed comparably with each other but not as well as fluorescence spectroscopy and colposcopy. CONCLUSION: Fluorescence spectroscopy performs better than colposcopy and other techniques in the diagnosis of SILs. Because it also permits real-time diagnosis and has the potential of being used by inexperienced health care personnel, this technology holds bright promise.

Carcinoma in Situ↗
PubMed1985

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Examination, treatment and follow-up.

In inflammatory cytology without suspicion of cervical neoplasia (Papanicolaou II) a pelvic examination is done in order to exclude a macroscopic visible tumor. After treatment of an inflammation a repeat cytology and a colposcopy is performed preferably 8 to 12 weeks later. If the cytology or the colposcopy is abnormal, or if the colposcopy is inconclusive, or if the inflammation is of viral origin, the patient is referred to colposcopy-directed biopsies and endocervical curettage like the patients with an initial cytology suspicious of cervical neoplasia (Papanicolaou III to V). A histologically verified CIN I is treated as soon as it proves itself stable, that is, if biopsies or ECC 3 to 6 months after the initial ones again show CIN I. In very young women treatment may be postponed another 3 to 6 months. Histologically verified CIN II and III are treated without postponement. In CIN I and II treatment by means of destruction is recommended if the neoplasia is located on the exocervix and the preoperative ECC is normal and if colposcopy can exclude (micro-)invasion. A CIN III fulfilling the same criteria may be destructed, too, preferably by the CO2 laser--partly because of the well defined and precise destruction especially with regard to the depth into the stroma and partly because the laser contrary to the cryoapparatus is very suitable of treating CIN involving large areas of the exocervix including neoplasias extending into the vagina. In this connection the combined excision and destruction by the laser should be mentioned, a treatment modality made accessible by the appearance of the laser.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carcinoma in Situ↗
PubMed2003

Participants at the ASCCP 2000 Biennial Meeting adhere to published guidelines in their management of atypical squamous cells and atypical glandular cells on pap test.

OBJECTIVE: To determine practice patterns of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) 2000 Biennial Meeting participants for management of women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three-page survey was developed to query participants about their standard practices for managing atypical squamous cells and atypical glandular cells on Pap tests; use of human papillomavirus testing; and use of vaginal estrogen cream in postmenopausal women before follow-up. RESULTS: There were 217 completed surveys (47.0% response rate). Responses of 194 qualified surveys are presented here. For women with first-time ASCUS (unqualified) and no previous history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 16.4% of respondents would perform colposcopy. For ASCUS (favor squamous intraepithelial lesion [SIL]), a significantly higher percent, 74.9%, would proceed immediately to colposcopy (p < .001). For ASCUS (unqualified or favor SIL) in a woman with a previous history of CIN, 82.7% and 95.5% would perform colposcopy, respectively (p < .001). For a patient with AGUS, 97.5% would perform colposcopy (with or without endocervical curettage or endometrial biopsy). Human papillomavirus testing was seldom used in the management of ASCUS (10.4%) and AGUS (7.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Participants at the 2000 ASCCP Biennial Meeting made clear distinctions between ASCUS and AGUS in managing women with abnormalities on Pap, and management was consistent with guidelines published by the ASCCP, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the National Cancer Institute.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

The clinical usefulness of human papillomavirus testing in the follow-up of women after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and cervical cytologic analysis in monitoring patients after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study comparing cytologic analysis and HPV testing using the follow-up protocol recommended by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Consensus Conference. Sixty-one patients were seen for a total of 193 follow-up patient visits. In 120 visits, both cytologic and HPV results were available. Specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values, and the rate of referral to colposcopy were calculated. RESULTS: In 68 visits, both HPV and cytologic results were negative, and in 19, both were positive. In 21 visits, cytologic results were positive and HPV results were negative, and in 12 visits, cytologic results were negative and HPV results were positive. The specificity of cytologic analysis and HPV testing was 68.3% and 75.8%, respectively (p = .16). The positive predictive value for cytologic analysis and HPV testing was 6.5% and 7.5%, respectively, and the negative predictive value was 100% and 98.9%, respectively. Had either test been used alone, cytologic analysis would have referred 40 patients to colposcopy and HPV testing would have referred 31 patients. Had both been used in combination, 52 patients would have required colposcopy with no significant improvement in the amount of disease detected. CONCLUSIONS: Both cytologic analysis and HPV testing are equally effective in monitoring patients after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The simultaneous use of cytologic analysis and HPV testing significantly increased colposcopy referrals without increasing the amount of disease detected.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1976

The making of a colposcopist. A safe and sensible approach.

A program was established to determine the accuracy of colposcopy at our institution. Forty-three patients with cytologic or histologic evidence of severe dysplasia or worse underwent diagnostic conization following satisfactory colposcopy. Thirty patients subsequently had either therapeutic conization or hysterectomy preceded by biopsy only. In all 73 cases, the surgical specimen did not reveal a more advanced lesion. However, when the colposcopy was unsatisfactory, the rate of error was 20.8%. It is our opinion that colposcopy is a safe and valuable technique as long as one recognizes the need for training and understands the indications for further diagnostic studies. The use of the colposcope for the evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology has increased steadily over the last few years, and several excellent courses are now offered throughout the United States. Armed with a certificate from such a course, many gynecologists then become self-proclaimed colposcopists in spite of warnings to the contrary by the instructors. In addition, supervision by experienced personnel is not always available. How, then, does one indeed become an accomplished colposcopist to the point that he or she can safely spare the patient the risk, inconvenience and expense of diagnostic cervical conization? Although several recent publications 2,5,6,9,11 document the diagnostic accuracy of colposcopically directly biopsies, we feel each individual should develop and evaluate his or her own skill before altering or abandoning conventional methods of diagnosis and management. The purpose of this report is to present our experience with colposcopy utilizing a program which can perhaps serve as a model to other clinicians.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2006

[Assessment of the treatment with imiquimod in persistent infection by human papillomavirus with the polimerase chain reaction method].

BACKGROUND: Molecular studies have shown that oncogenic genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) are the main risk factor for cervical cancer development. Sub-clinical wound does not cause symptoms and is diagnosed by colposcopy or histology, in addition the latent infection is associated with the presence of DNA of the HPV, but when clinical and histological abnormalities are not presented only molecular techniques can detect this infection. OBJECTIVE: To determine if complementary processing with imiquimod, recent medicament with powerful antiviral activity in vitro as in vivo, reduces the cervical persistence of HPV. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out with 87 patients, who had antecedents of HPV cervical and intraepithelial wound with low degree. Patients were divided as follows: treated with cryotherapy, cervical loop electrosurgical and imiquimod, all with diagnosis by cervical cytology, colposcopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV. At 3, 6 and 12 months after the processing, PCR, cervical cytology and colposcopy control were carried out again. RESULTS: Out of the 87 patients studied, 11% (10) patients treated with cervical cytology were positive for VPH; with colposcopy 8% (7) of patients and with PCR 40% (34) of patients; decreased persistence with combined methods of loop and imiquimod was obtained in 29% (5) patients; however, when utilized imiquimod alone, there were 55% (11) patients with persistence determined by PCR method. DISCUSSION: Imiquimod appears to be beneficial in 45% of the patients, in contrast with efficacy reported until 85% in genitals and annals warts, in addition, the capacity of eliminating the viruses has been shown, therefore it is possible that its potential effect could be observed long-time. It is evident that the percentages of viral detection are improved for PCR method, compared with indirect methods as cervical cytology and colposcopy, which is favorable when virus serotypes are of high degree of transformation and ablative methods should be conservatives due to fertility motives.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗