Chapter 5 The latest version of the international terminology, which is used in this book, was formulated by the International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) with the International Society for the Study of Vulvar Disease (ISSVD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2011. This current version provides a comprehensive terminology for the entire lower genital tract and thus includes vulvar, vaginal, and anal disease as well as cervical findings. It also specifies terminology for different excision techniques and excision specimen dimensions (Tables 5.1–5.5). Table 5.2 International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy definitions of excision types and dimensions of cone specimens
Colposcopic Terminology
5 Colposcopic Terminology
Excision treatment types | |
Type 1 | Resection of a completely ectocervical or type 1 TZ |
Type 2 | Resection of a type 2 TZ (small amount of endocervical epithelium visible with a colposcope) |
Type 3 | Resection of a type 3 TZ (longer and larger amount of tissue than type 1 or type 2 excisions, with a significant amount of endocervical epithelium) |
Excision specimen dimensions | Length: distance from the distal or external margin to the proximal or internal margin |
Thickness: distance from the stromal margin to the surface of the excised specimen | |
Circumference (optional): perimeter of the excised specimen | |
Abbreviation: TZ, transformation zone.
General assessment | Adequate/inadequate for the reason (e.g., inflammation, bleeding, scar) | |
Normal colposcopic findings | Squamous epithelium: |
|
Mature | ||
Atrophic | ||
