Colposcopes are very useful in identifying precancerous lesions and cancer.
A colposcopy helps us locate suspect areas − which are not visible to a naked eye examination − and if deemed necessary, take biopsies (small tissue samples). It is also useful for defining transformation zones, which are the most frequent areas where normal cells are transformed into cancer cells in the cervix, and to determine our next steps (diagnostic or surgical).
The role of a colposcopy is to correctly guide the doctor in deciding which area to take the biopsies from or how to plan the removal of a wider area, with the main aim of not missing invasive cancer.
