COLPOSCOPIC TERMINOLOGY


COLPOSCOPIC TERMINOLOGY: THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF CERVICAL PATHOLOGY AND COLPOSCOPY

In the past decade, major changes in our understanding of the epidemiology and science of cervical carcinoma has yielded efforts to develop a unified terminology to be used throughout the international scientific community. The International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) approved a basic colposcopic terminology at its Seventh World Congress in Rome, May, 1990.* This outline summarizes this terminology. These terms should be used to describe findings during the colposcopic examination.

OUTLINE OF COLPOSCOPIC TERMINOLOGY

I. Normal colposcopic findings

  1. Original squamous epithelium
  2. Columnar epithelium
  3. Normal transformation zone
  4. Squamocolumnar Junction (SCJ)**
  5. Squamous Metaplasia**

II. Abnormal colposcopic findings

  1. Within the transformation zone
    1. Acetowhite epithelium
      1. Flat
      2. Micropapillary or microconvoluted
    2. Punctation
    3. Mosaic
    4. Leukoplakia
    5. Iodine-negative epithelium
    6. Atypical vessels
  2. Outside the transformation zone, e.g., ectocervix, vagina
    1. Acetowhite epithelium
      1. Flat
      2. Micropapillary or microconvoluted
    2. Punctation
    3. Mosaic
    4. Leukoplakia
    5. Iodine-negative epithelium
    6. Atypical vessels

III. Colposcopically suspect invasive carcinoma

IV. Unsatisfactory colposcopy

  1. Squamocolumnar junction not visible
  2. Severe inflammation or severe atrophy
  3. Cervix not visible
  4. Entire lesion not seen**

V. Miscellaneous findings

  1. Non-acetowhite micropapillary surface
  2. Exophytic condyloma
  3. Inflammation
  4. Atrophy
  5. Ulcer
  6. Other
*