Cervicography
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Cervicography
Cervicography uses photography to identify squamous intraepithelial lesions.The examiner first applies a 5% acetic acid solution, then photographs the cervix using a 35-mm camera. The resulting slide, a cervicogram, is interpreted by an experienced colposcopist. Cervicography is less expensive than colposcopy but has limited usefulness because up to 40% cannot be evaluated owing to technical problems or inadequate visualization of the transformation zone. When adequate for interpretation, the cervicogram’s reported sensitivity ranges between 74% and 94%, but the test’s specificity is only 26% to 50%. Although available since 1981, cervicography is not currently used in screening for cervical neoplasia (Appleby). |