What does an Acetowhite lesion mean?
The acetic acid washes away mucus and allows abnormal areas to be seen more easily with the colposcope. Moreover, the acetic acid stains the abnormal areas white. The areas that stain white after the acetic acid wash are called acetowhite lesions.
Is Acetowhite cancerous?
An acetowhite area may be a benign lesion, a precancerous lesion or a cancer. Only precancerous lesions or cancer are considered pathological and need therapy.
What is dense Acetowhite?
Dense acetowhite epithelium: A distinct dense and opaque white area after application of acetic acid is suggestive of HSIL (CIN2 or CIN 3). The colour is typically “oyster white” or greyish white. The dense, thick acetowhite area is also known as stearin (fat in its solid form) in the Swede scoring system.
Why does acetic acid stain abnormal cells white?
Areas of high-grade CIN and invasive cancer turn densely white and opaque immediately after application of acetic acid, due to their higher concentration of abnormal nuclear protein and the presence of large numbers of dysplastic cells in the superficial layers of the epithelium.
What does white epithelium mean?
Aceto-white epithelium is the most commonly detected feature. of an atypical transformation zone. Aceto-white epithelium is the most commonly detected feature. of an atypical transformation zone. Cervical epithelium with neoplastic changes undergoes a whitish discoloration following the application of 3–5% acetic acid.
What is SCJ in colposcopy?
Normal cervical epithelium – Squamocolumnar junction The squamous epithelium and the columnar epithelium meet at a line called the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ). The SCJ is visible as the junction between the pink squamous epithelium and the red columnar epithelium after the cervix is cleaned with normal saline.
Can you feel cervical tumor?
There are usually no signs or symptoms of early cervical cancer but it can be detected early with regular check-ups. Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
What is the Exocervix?
The exocervix (or ectocervix) is the outer part of the cervix that can be seen by the doctor during a speculum exam. It is covered in squamous cells.
Is transformation zone normal?
The transformation zone may be described as normal when it is composed of immature and/or mature squamous metaplasia along with intervening areas or islands of columnar epithelium, with no signs of cervical carcinogenesis (1.14a).
When should colposcopic-directed biopsies of acetowhite lesions be performed?
Data from one study 16 demonstrate that colposcopic-directed biopsies of acetowhite lesions should be performed even when the colposcopic impression is squamous metaplasia or low-grade disease 7, 16 ( Figure 1 6).
What does an acetowhite lesion on the cervix mean?
The more regular the border of the acetowhite area is, the more likely it is that the acetowhite area represents a high-grade lesion. Normal blood vessels of the cervix have the branching pattern of a tree, with a central stem from which smaller branches spread out.
What is the punctate area seen in Colposcopically?
Figure 6. 3 (a) Representation of the punctate areas seen colposcopically. Between the epithelial buds (1), there is a vascular bundle (2) that nearly reaches the surface where the squamous epithelium is very thin. This allows the vessels to be seen through the surface (3). Vessels within the stromal connective tissue can be easily seen.
What is acetowhite epithelium?
The acetowhite epithelium has variable degrees of opacity. The area surrounding (1) is of a translucent acetowhite epithelium with irregular feathery margins consistent with a diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV)/low-grade epithelial atypia.