The incidence of dysplasia and cervical cancer in women is growing at a disappointing rate every year. For the timely diagnosis of these and other female diseases, there is a gynecological examination called "cervical biopsy".
Why and to whom do they take a biopsy of the cervix?
Depending on the case, a biopsy of the cervix is taken for:
- clarification of the delivered or presumed diagnosis;
- exclusion or detection of cancer or precancerous processes of the cervix.
Cervical biopsy is primarily necessary for those women who are HPV carriers of high oncogenic risk (16, 18, 36 and 45 types), the results of oncocytology or colposcopy of which contain data on significant pathological changes in the cervical epithelium.
If necessary, an expanded colposcopy (at the same time, traditional colposcopy with cervical biopsy) is performed. This procedure is called sight biopsy of the cervix.
Cervical biopsy is also performed with leukoplakia , polyps and erosion to determine the presence / absence of malignant cells, clarify the cause of the disease and prescribe appropriate treatment.
With mild dysplasia, biopsy of the cervix is not recommended, it is enough to conduct oncocytological studies periodically to control the disease.
How is a cervical biopsy done?
The procedure for conducting a biopsy of the cervix is relatively simple and moderately painful. During it, the patient is injected into the vagina with appropriate gynecological instruments, with their help a small piece of cervical tissue is cut out. The tissue is taken from that part of the neck, the condition of which causes the greatest fear of the doctors. Samples of tissue are sent for further histological examination.
The need for anesthesia during the biopsy of the cervix is determined by its appearance. Most often with the injection of anesthetic make a local anesthesia, less often: epidural, spinal or general anesthesia.
Types of biopsy
To date, the most common practice of such types of biopsies:
- Aiming (colposcopic) biopsy of the cervix. It is carried out during the diagnostic examination, almost painless, short-term (up to 10 seconds) procedure.
- Radio wave biopsy of the cervix. The procedure is carried out without anesthesia with the help of a radio wave scalpel, which results in minimal traumaticity and minimal risk of postoperative scars. Radio wave biopsy of the cervix is recommended to make nulliparous women.
- Loop excision biopsy of the cervix. A traumatic type of biopsy is sufficient, after which it is possible to form scars on the cervix. Its essence is in exfoliation of pathological tissue with the help of a special loop-like instrument, through which an electric current passes.
- Knife biopsy of the cervix (conization). The procedure requires general, epidural or spinal anesthesia. With the help of a scalpel, excision of both abnormal and nearby healthy tissue of the uterine neck is carried out, followed by its histological examination.
- Endocervical biopsy of the cervix. The scraper of the tissue of the surface layer of the uterine neck is used as the tool for the curette.
What does the biopsy of the cervix show?
The results of cervical biopsy are more accurate than in colposcopy and oncocytology and are no longer contested. By results of a biopsy it is possible:
- to determine the presence of atypical leukoplakia, dysplasia and uterine neck cancer;
- confirm the presence of: inflammation of the cervix and its canal, erosion, simple leukoplakia, polyps.
Cervical biopsy results contain data on:
- presence / absence of cellular changes (absence of cellular changes - the norm, minor changes - inflammatory process);
- presence / absence of I, II or III degree of dysplasia (I degree - mild dysplasia, II, III degree - moderate and severe dysplasia, in fact, precancer);
- presence / absence of cervical carcinoma - cervical cancer.