Colposcopy in pregnancy. A twelve year review

In a 12-year period, 195 patients with abnormal cervical cytology in pregnancy had colposcopy, of whom 73 had Grade IV cytology. Colposcopic findings in pregnancy correlated closely with the postpartum colposcopic assessment and this in turn predicted the ultimate histological diagnosis. Wedge biopsies were taken in two women in whom invasive disease could not be excluded colposcopically. Cone biopsy was avoided in all patients. No frank or occult invasive disease was missed but one patient was ultimately found to have a small focus of microinvasive disease six months post partum. Postpartum cytology gave a reasonable guide to the ultimate histology, although postpartum colposcopy was found to be of value even where cytology had by then reverted to normal.