Video colpography: a new technique for secondary cervical screening.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a new technique of cervical imaging and to consider its potential as a secondary cervical screening method.


METHODS
A prospective cross-sectional study with each case acting as its own control, comparing video colpography with colposcopy.


METHODS
University of Birmingham colposcopy clinics, City Hospital and Birmingham Women's Hospital.


METHODS
Fifty women referred for colposcopy.


METHODS
The women had a video colpogram recording made prior to colposcopy.


METHODS
The proportion of technically suitable colpograms obtained and the level of agreement between colposcopist and video screener.


RESULTS
The images were satisfactory or good in 94% cases, and there was a very high level of agreement between colposcopist and video screener (kappa = 0.79). If the technique had been used in a primary health care setting as a secondary screening method for women with low grade cervical smear abnormalities, 61% would have avoided referral for colposcopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Video colpography is an accurate, portable and quick method of cervical imaging. It combines the simplicity of a video camera with the versatility of computerised digital imaging and has great potential in the fields of teaching, audit and screening of low grade smear abnormalities.
Etherington
I J
IJ
City Hospital NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Dunn
J
J
Shafi
M I
MI
Smith
T
T
Luesley
D M
DM
D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000517:prevention & control*