Colposcopy

Colposcopy has gained widespread acceptance in the United States only in the last ten years and today is considered standard practice for evaluating women with abnormal Pap smears. Colposcopy use has provided a less radical means of diagnosis and developed new ways of treating premalignant diseases of the cervix. Other uses of colposcopy include evaluation of cervical, vaginal, and vulvar lesions; monitoring gravidas with preinvasive disease of the cervix; and screening of DES-exposed women. In addition, colposcopy is used in conjunction with CO2 laser in selective treatment of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.