The changing face of colposcopy

Cervical cancer is the 7th most common disease globally, and the third most prevalent in women. In the UK, it is the most common cancer in women under 35 years of age. The disease is caused by oncogenic genotypes of the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, which trigger changes in the cervical cells. 

Colposcopy, the procedure for examining the cervix, is an important method in detecting abnormalities. However, the procedure has not drastically changed over the last 90 years. Diagnosis of pre-cancerous disease is based on a subjective assessment of non-specific visual indicators on the cervix. Inaccurate colposcopy can therefore lead to inappropriate or over-treatment, diagnostic delays or require repeated examinations to avoid a missed diagnosis. 

A leading consultant gynaecologist at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is addressing these issues by introducing a pioneering technology as an adjunct to the standard colposcopy procedure. The system called ZedScan, which was developed through a partnership between an NHS hospital and an academic institution, improves performance of colposcopy in diagnosing pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix. Since inception it has been adopted in hospitals in the UK and internationally.