OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of women referred to colposcopy with the clinical finding of suspected cancer ("clinically suspicious cervix"). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of women referred to a dedicated colposcopy clinic serving a regional population with a clinically suspicious cervix was conducted. All referral letters were reviewed, and women were identified prospectively when the letter stated "referral for a clinically suspicious cervix." Relevant data were collected subsequently by case note review. RESULTS: One hundred four women were identified, and 95 attended for colposcopy from September 2006 to January 2008. Nine women defaulted. Seventy-six (80%) had a normal cervix or a benign cervical pathological result. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was detected in 15 patients (16%), and only 4 women (4%) had invasive cancer confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that women referred with a clinically suspicious cervix should be assessed in a general gynecology clinic rather than colposcopy because most will not have cancer. The small number of women with a clinical cancer can then be referred onto colposcopy, whereas women with benign pathological result can be treated appropriately in the general clinic.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of women referred to colposcopy with the clinical finding of suspected cancer ("clinically suspicious cervix"). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of women referred to a dedicated colposcopy clinic serving a regional population with a clinically suspicious cervix was conducted. All referral letters were reviewed, and women were identified prospectively when the letter stated "referral for a clinically suspicious cervix." Relevant data were collected subsequently by case note review. RESULTS: One hundred four women were identified, and 95 attended for colposcopy from September 2006 to January 2008. Nine women defaulted. Seventy-six (80%) had a normal cervix or a benign cervical pathological result. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was detected in 15 patients (16%), and only 4 women (4%) had invasive cancer confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that women referred with a clinically suspicious cervix should be assessed in a general gynecology clinic rather than colposcopy because most will not have cancer. The small number of women with a clinical cancer can then be referred onto colposcopy, whereas women with benign pathological result can be treated appropriately in the general clinic.
Authors: Pauline Williams; Peter Murchie; Maggie E Cruickshank; Christine M Bond; Christopher D Burton Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2019-07-31 Impact factor: 2.267