[Revision of the French colposcopic terminology]. / Nouvelle classification française des images colposcopiques.

OBJECTIVES: To revise the 1983 colposcopic terminology form the French Society of Colposcopy and cervicovaginal pathology (SFCPCV). METHODS: All the three following steps of colposcopic examination were considered for the description of various colposcopic features: inspection without coloration, followed by the application of acetic acid and iodine staining. This revised terminology now includes the different possible colposcopic aspects of the normal cervix, including the ectropion and the normal transformation zone. It also includes colposcopic appearance of abnormal glandular cervical epithelium and of vaginal epithelium. The revised nomenclature was reviewed by all the board of the SFCPCV and was finally approved during the 45th annual conference of the SFCPCV. RESULTS: Abnormal transformation zone grade (TAG) 1a and 1b have been brought together under the sole TAG1 designation. TAG2a and TAG2b now correspond to TAG2, whereas TAG2c corresponds to TAG3. Colposcopic report should mention the interpretability of the colposcopic examination, with the precise type of the squamocolumnar junction (1, 2 or 3), the colposcopic impression, the size of any TAG and finally mention whether one or multiple biopsies were taken and their precise location. Colposcopic impression must give priority to the most pejorative colposcopic aspect which takes precedence over others. CONCLUSION: When performing colposcopy, one should keep in mind that this examination only relies on the interpretation of various colposcopic signs and images with this not guaranteeing for diagnosis. Only histological analysis of a possible guided cervical biopsy provides for a precise diagnosis.

[Self-evaluation of conization indications since the introduction of the French colposcopy and cervico-vaginal pathology quality charter in 2 colposcopy centers]. / Auto-évaluation des indications de conisation depuis l'instauration de la charte de qualité en colposcopie et pathologie cervico-vaginale.

OBJECTIVES: Analyze the efficiency of the implementation of the colposcopy and cervico-vaginal pathology quality charter. The question was to determine whether the criteria of more than 70% of excisional conizations containing CIN2+ lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or 3 or carcinoma in situ) had been reached and demonstrate a reduction of the conization rate is possible. METHODS: An epidemiological descriptive, retrospective and multicenter study was performed in "Nord Franche-Comté Hospitals" (Belfort and Montbéliard, France) during the period from November 2013 to January 2015. Inclusion criteria were patients over 25 years undergoing cervical excisions for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes after Pap smear screening followed by colposcopically directed biopsies. The files were selected from a data collection and studied using the computerized patient record. RESULTS: In total, 116 conizations were performed: 103 by four French Society of Colposcopy and Cervico-Vaginal Pathology (SFCPCV) members and 13 by four SFCPCV non-members. The overall result of the primary outcome showed 53% of CIN2+ lesions found in cervical conization specimens, which can be broken down to 55% for the group of SFCPCV members and to 38% for the group of SFCPCV non-members. The statistical analysis indicates a significant difference (P=0.02) in the percentage of CIN2+ lesions discovered on the surgical specimen for the group of SFCPCV members. CONCLUSIONS: This self-evaluation shows that it is essential to be a SFCPCV member and to adhere to the charter. By complying with the charter and associating the new National Cancer Institute recommendations (December 2016), it is possible to reduce the conization rate and even to surpass the target of more than 70% of excisional conizations containing CIN2+ lesions.

[Pap smear for mass screening: Results of an African experiment]. / Dépistage de masse par frottis cervicovaginal : résultats d'une expérience africaine.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of smear test in the fight against cervix uteri cancer in Senegal. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 1836 Pap smears performed in patients over 15 years during several screening campaigns in Senegal conducted between June 2010 and June 2012. We analyzed epidemiological data, pathological smears, and the proposed management. RESULTS: In 69% of cases, the women were less than 45 years old. They were mostly multiparous and did not use contraceptive methods before. The smears were interpreted in 91.4% (n=1661) and were pathological in 5.2% of cases. They revealed mainly atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, squamous intraepithelial low-grade lesions, and squamous intraepithelial high-grade lesions, respectively in 2.5% (n=46), 1.7% (n=30) and 1% (n=19) of cases. Multiparity, early marriages were the main risk factors. Patients with pathological smars had colposcopy with cryotherapy (23 cases), and colposcopy and biopsy (13 cases). A hysterectomy was performed in 4 cases. CONCLUSION: The pathological smear rate found in this study confirms the interest to continue cervical cancer screening with this practice. Strengthening of its geographical and financial access through a national prevention program will effectively help to lower cases of cervical cancer.

[Evaluation of practices of excisional therapies for CIN: An audit of surgery rooms from Marseilles' area]. / Évaluation des modalités de réalisation des conisations pour le traitement des CIN : enquête auprès des blocs opératoires de la région PACA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate what is the proportion of surgery rooms from Marseilles' area that do perform excisional therapies for CIN without any use of colposcopic guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2012 to January 2013, a survey was conducted among all surgery rooms from Marseilles' area practicing excisional therapies for CIN. In addition, answers from gynecologists from Marseilles' area who participated to a national survey that evaluated practices of excisional therapies in France were specifically analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 55 surgery rooms from Marseilles' area practicing excisional therapies, 52 (94.1%) participated to the current survey. A colposcope was available in only 19 (36.5%) surgery rooms and was systematically used for the guidance of excisional therapies in only 4 (21%) of these surgery rooms. Finally, 36 (69.2%) surgery rooms answered performing excisional therapies without any use of colposcopic guidance. Colposcopy was occasionally and systematically used in 12 (23.1%) and 4 (7.7%) surgery rooms, respectively. Among the 116 gynecologists from Marseilles' area who answered to the national survey, 88 (75.9%) answered not using colposcopy when performing excision for CIN. Only 6% answered performing excision systematically under direct colposcopic vision and 18.1% occasionally. CONCLUSION: No colposcopic guidance is used when performing excision for CIN in the majority of surgery rooms from Marseilles' area.

[How are excisional therapies for CIN performed in France? A national audit]. / Comment les traitements d'exérèse des CIN sont-ils réalisés en France ? Une enquête nationale.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate how excisional therapies are performed in France and if colposcopy is used for the guidance of excision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A national survey was performed among French gynecologists using an anonymous online questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 555 (14.9%) gynecologists participated to the survey, only answers from the 396 (71.3%) who answered practicing excisional therapies for CIN were considered. LLETZ was the most common excisional technique employed (84.9%). Among respondents, 275 (69.3%) answered not using colposcopy at the time of excision, 67 (16.9%) answered performing excisions under naked eye vision immediately after they had performed a colposcopic examination and 52 (13.8%) under direct colposcopic vision. Although initial colposcopic training did not influence the probability to use colposcopy at the time of excision, the probability of performing excisions immediately after a colposcopic examination or under direct colposcopic vision was significantly increased by the monthly practice of 30 or more colposcopic examinations (AOR: 3.34; 95%CI: 1.54-7.26 and AOR: 2.16; 95%CI: 1.08-4.34, respectively) and by the monthly practice of 5 or more excisional therapies (AOR: 3.06; 95%CI: 1.42-6.56 and AOR: 3.03; 95%: 1.54-5.96, respectively). CONCLUSION: Only a minority of French gynecologists uses colposcopy for the guidance of excisional therapies for CIN. Such practice seems to be influenced by the number of colposcopic examinations and of excisions they perform in a month.

[Proposal of a new methodology: tridimensional colposcopy (3D) of the lower genital tract]. / Proposition d'une nouvelle technique : la colposcopie 3D.

The combination of a colposcope to a computer with a 3D video adapter and a dedicated graphics card can get with a specialized 3D visualization deferred delayed colposcopic imaging software. The 3-dimensional images allow the observation of new aspects of epithelial surfaces from different angles which is possible to visualize with this technology alone.

[Appraisal of the optical diagnostic technique for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia by polarimetric imaging "Polcolpo". Comparison with colposcopic and histological diagnoses by biopsy]. / Étude prospective comparant les performances de la colposcopie classique à la colposcopie guidée par polarimétrie sur la détection des néoplasies intra-épithéliales du col utérin.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to compare the performances of polarimetric imaging and standard colposcopy for the detection of CIN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a monocentric prospective clinical study. The standard colposcopic diagnosis obtained during a first consultation was compared to the diagnosis provided by polarimetric imaging in a second consultation. In addition to the biopsies guided by classical or polarimetric colposcopy, a systematic biopsy taken at a predefined location allowed to calculate the specificities and sensitivities of both techniques. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one patients were included, all of them with anomalous Pap smears. Sixty-seven cone biopsies were taken, 69 % of which were eventually diagnosed with CIN2+ lesions. The sensitivities and specificities were found to be equal for standard and polarimetric colposcopies. CONCLUSION: We could not demonstrate any improvement of the diagnostic performances with polarimetric colposcopy alone. However, for both healthy and pathological cervices, we observed interesting polarimetric responses involving other characteristics than those we initially assumed, and which will be taken into account in a future study.