title: The correspondence between abnormal transformation zone grade 1 and grade 2 colposcopic parameters and histology. Clinical implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the correlation between the colposcopic parameters of Grade 1 and Grade 2 abnormal transformation zone (ANTZ G1-ANTZ G2) and histological examination of the cone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of medical records of 600 women who underwent colposcopy and conisation (large loop excision of the transformation zone - LLETZ) between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2012. The correlation between colposcopic and histological parameters was analysed using the Spearman nonparametric test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In ANTZG1 there was no correlation (r = - 0.03; p = 0.55); in ANTZG2 however, a low degree of correlation (r = 0.21; p = 0.03) was found. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of an ANTZ G2 colposcopic picture were 33.45% (confidence interval [CI] 95% 28.0% to 39.2%), 95.48% (CI 95% 92.5% to 97.5%), 87.4% (CI 95% 79.7% to 92.9%), and 60.5% (CI 95% 56% to 64.9%), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decisive factor in the diagnosis of the cervical oncologic pathologies is the histological examination of the cone, and not the colposcopy which should be seen as a "guiding" investigation in predicting conisation and application of the most appropriate treatment.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patacchiola
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Necozione
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Febbo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods*; D019092:Conization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*