[Colposcopic differential diagnosis of portiopapillomatosis (author's transl)]

The guidelines for differential diagnosis of portiopapillomas were established on the basis of 21 cases. The term "papilloma" is exclusively confined to the changes occurring at the surface of the portio. Two colposcopic criteria of the typical portiopapilloma are defined. These are: 1. the specific surface structure and the reactivity to acid reagents, and 2. the specific vascular architectonics and its ability to react to cyclopeptid hormones. Hence, three architectonic types of papillae and 3 basic types of blood vessels are described. Basing on the guidelines it has become colposcopically possible to differentiate between a benign papillomatous growth and an exophytic carcinoma. The atypical papillomas are described in the concluding section of the article. These are characterized by anomalies of the surface and of the vessels. The epithelial layer of these papillomas often shows dysplastic or even carcinomatous proliferation.