Evaluation of colposcopy in screening of suspicious-looking cervix using swede score and its correlation with the histopathological findings

Abstract

<br><b>Background:</b> Cervical cancer is a global health problem. It ranks as the fourth-most common leading cause of female cancer in the world and the second leading cause of female cancer in India. Different methods are used for its screening as it has a long latent phase. Colposcopy-guided biopsy of suspicious unhealthy-looking areas is taken as the gold standard in the diagnosis of intraepithelial lesions. However, a new scoring system of colposcopy called the Swede score has a high specificity and can omit the need of biopsy.<br><b>Objective:</b> The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of colposcopy using Swede score in unhealthy cervix and to determine the degree of correlation between colposcopy scores and histopathological findings.<br><b>Materials and Methods:</b> The study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Ninety-eight patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for the study.<br><b>Results:</b> It was evident that colposcopy using a Swede score of >5 and even more of >7 is definitely more sensitive and accurate in the screening of unhealthy-looking suspicious cervix in the Indian population and can be considered to use for performing a direct excisional procedure or cryotherapy as a “see and treat” method at this cutoff point, avoiding the need for cervical biopsy for histopathological confirmation.<br><b>Conclusion:</b> Swede score performed well in this hospital-based study on a selected population coming to gynecology OPD with complaints of lower abdominal pain, discharge per vaginum, dyspareunia, abnormal uterine etc. referred to the colposcopy clinic in view of unhealthy- looking suspicious cervix.<br>