[Colposcopy in gynecologic cancers. Retrospective study of 192 examinations]

One hundred and ninety two colposcopic examinations carried out on 183 patients of whom 140 had carcinoma of the cervix, 26 carcinoma of the endometrium and 17 carcinoma of the ovaries were analysed in order to assess the value of colposcopy in patients with gynaecological cancer. The mean distance from the edge of the anus that was looked at was 45 cms--the range being from--130. Out of all the systematic examinations that were carried out before any treatment was started, 103 were for cervical cancer and among these invasion of the rectal mucosa was found in two cases (1.9%). Twelve cases of external pressure on the rectum and 9 cases of recto-colic polyadenomata (8.7%) of which one was malignant. Out of the 14 colposcopies that were carried out for carcinoma of the endometrium one case of rectal invasion was found and one case of external compression. In the 12 cases of cancer of the ovary 2 were found to have recto-colic spread, 1 external compression and 1 malignant polyadenoma. All these cases of spread to the rectum and colon were diagnosed in advanced cases (stage III or IV). In the 63 examinations carried out on follow-up the most common warning sign was a rectal discharge and the most commonly found lesion in the rectum was actinomycotic inflammation of the rectum. The 5 cases of recurrence in the rectum expressed themselves most often by the rectal syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)