Cervical cancer diagnosis you need to know

Cervical cancer is an oncological disease in which malignant transformation of the epithelium occurs. This disease belongs to the "visual localization" disease, although the course is asymptomatic in the early stages, it can be detected early if you regularly undergo preventive examinations. With a timely diagnosis of cervical cancer, the chances of a complete cure are very high.

How was the inspection?

The survey algorithm consists of two stages. At the first stage, a preliminary examination of the patient is carried out, which includes, in addition to collecting the history and examining in the mirror,

The cytological examination is a screening technique, the efficiency of which is more than 85%. I used the method of liquid cytology - the most informative at the moment, during the procedure, the material taken from the surface of the cervix and cervical canal is placed in a test tube with a special stabilizing medium. If it is necessary to confirm the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the future, this material can be examined to clarify the information, which saves time, if treatment is prescribed, the effectiveness of therapy can also be monitored.

simple colposcopy is an endoscopic examination using a microscope, in which the image of the examined area is magnified 6-16 times, which allows you to examine the mucosa in more detail, while pathologically altered tissues can be distinguished from normal ones.

If any suspicious foci are detected during the visual examination, or if pathological changes are detected during cytology, if the results of the analysis are unsatisfactory, the patient is sent for further examination. In the second stage:

extended colposcopy - during the procedure, the mucosa is treated with a 3-5% solution of acetic acid or Lugol's solution, which makes it possible to detect pathologically altered cells; the efficiency of the method reaches 70-80%;

if necessary, a targeted biopsy is performed - taking material from the suspicious area with subsequent histological examination. This technique remains decisive in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer, as it allows not only to recognize the histology of the tumor, to determine the malignancy process, but also to make a treatment prognosis.

HPV testing - the leading cause of cervical cancer; We use various immunocytochemical and molecular biology methods to identify viruses: PCR, Hybrid Capture II, etc.

the study of SCC oncommarkers (tumor antigens) - determine the level of squamous cell carcinoma antigens - a specific protein that is not produced by healthy cells; in the face of the vicious formation, his concentration rose sharply.

Instrumental diagnostics for cervical cancer

Depending on the existing manifestations, certain instrumental diagnostic methods can be prescribed, among which are:

Ultrasound is the simplest method for diagnosing cervical cancer, it is necessary to determine the prevalence of the process;

cervicohysteroscopy - a method of early diagnosis of cervical cancer and other pathologies, in which a separate diagnostic curettage is performed (according to indications) - taking material from the cervical canal and from the uterine mucosa;

cystoscopy - visual examination of the inner surface of the bladder using an endoscopic apparatus, which is determined by the presence of a tumor larger than 4 cm, if the process affects the anterior vaginal fornix or the patient has relevant complaints;

sigmoidoscopy - endoscopic examination of the rectum and lower sigmoid in the presence of a tumor larger than 4 cm with involvement in the process of the posterior vaginal fornix.

tomography - CT, MRI - is prescribed to the patient to assess the degree of spread of the process to other structures: the body of the uterus, parameters, organs of the abdominal and pelvic cavities, lymph nodes, etc.

PET/PET-CT is recommended to exclude metastatic spread to lymph nodes, formation of distant metastases;

osteoscintigraphy - indicated for suspected bone metastases;

You may also need a chest X-ray, intravenous urography, and other tests. To get a more complete picture of the disease, the patient is given laboratory blood tests (general, biochemical, correlogram, etc.). In oncological diseases, a comprehensive examination is important; Further treatment tactics, including future levels of surgery, depending on this. In our clinic, patients have access to all the necessary examinations.

Treatment features

Turning to me, each patient can rely on an individual approach, I choose the tactics of examination and treatment, taking into account many nuances: age, presence of accompanying pathologies, previous surgical interventions, etc.

An important step is a lymphadenectomy. During surgical interventions performed by most surgeons, after the removal of lymph nodes and blood vessels, a large amount of lymph flows into the abdominal cavity; to treat this complication, it is necessary to install a drain in the pelvic cavity for a long time. To deny the drains, I use instruments during lymph node surgery, with the help of which it is possible to close the vessels (blood and lymph) reliably. Thus, the operating area remains dry, which allows all manipulations to be carried out with high precision. In our clinic, the Fast Track system has been developed and is successfully used - fast recovery surgery: the body's stress response is reduced, and the time spent in the hospital is minimized.

The cervical disease is one of the few that can be detected during a visual examination during a screening examination. Therefore, I recommend that all women undergo regularly scheduled checkups - once a year. If cervical cancer is suspected, early diagnosis is essential; with timely treatment, recovery is possible in more than 90-95% of patients.