StatPearls-/-ä 2024[Jan]; ä (ä): ä PMID33232095show ga
Colposcopy is a diagnostic procedure in which a lighted magnifying instrument called a colposcope is used to examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva. Hans Hinselmen of Germany first described colposcopy in 1925 as a screening tool for cervical cancer. The procedure is performed to evaluate patients with an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) test, those who test positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, or those with a suspicious appearing cervix, even if screening for dysplasia is negative. It may also be performed as a posttreatment follow-up of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive carcinoma. Although colposcopy is practiced by many clinicians (including advanced practice providers, primary care providers, gynecologists, gynecological oncologists, and others), standardization of the procedural process, necessary training, and continued development and maintenance of colposcopic skills are generally poor. It is also well-documented that colposcopy has significant interperformer variability and poor reliability. In 2017, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) published colposcopy standards to address these and other concerns. The standardization of terminology was established to simplify and ensure a comprehensive colposcopic exam was performed at every encounter.
StatPearls-/-ä 2024 ; ä (ä): ä
