Accepted in Rio World Congress, July 5, 2011
Nomenclature Committee chairman: Jacob Bornstein MD
2011 IFCPC colposcopic terminology of the cervix
General assessment
- Adequate/inadequate for the reason … (i.e.: cervix obscured by inflammation, bleeding, scar)
- Squamo-columnar Junction visibility: completely visible, partially visible, not visible
- Transformation zone types 1,2,3
Normal colposcopic findings
Original squamous epithelium:
- Mature
- Atrophic
Columnar epithelium
- Ectopy
Metaplastic squamous epithelium
- Nabothian cysts
- Crypt (gland) openings
Deciduosis in pregnancy
Abnormal colposcopic findings
General principles
- Location of the lesion: Inside or outside the T-zone, Location of the lesion by clock position
- Size of the lesion: Number of cervical quadrants the lesion covers, Size of the lesion in percentage of cervix,
Grade 1 (Minor)
| Thin aceto-white epithelium | Fine mosaic, |
| Irregular, geographic border | Fine punctation |
Grade 2 (Major)
| Dense aceto-white epithelium, | Coarse mosaic, |
| Rapid appearance of acetowhitening, | Coarse punctuation, |
| Cuffed crypt (gland) openings | Sharp border, |
| Inner border sign, | |
| Ridge sign |
Non specific
- Leukoplakia (keratosis, hyperkeratosis), Erosion
- Lugol's staining (Schiller's test): stained/non-stained
Suspicious for invasion
- Atypical vessels
- Additional signs: Fragile vessels, Irregular surface, Exophytic lesion, Necrosis, Ulceration (necrotic), tumor/gross neoplasm
Miscellaneous finding
| Congenital transformation zone, | Stenosis, |
| Condyloma, | Congenital anomaly, |
| Polyp (Ectocervical/endocervical) | Post treatment consequence, |
| Inflammation, | Endometriosis |
2011 IFCPC colposcopic terminology of the cervix – addendum
| Excision treatment types | Excision type 1,2,3 |
| Excision specimen dimensions | Length - the distance from the distal/external margin to the proximal/internal margin Thickness- the distance from the stromal margin to the surface of the excised specimen. Circumference (Optional)- the perimeter of the excised specimen |
2011 IFCPC clinical/colposcopic terminology of the vagina
General assessment
- Adequate/inadequate for the reason (i.e: inflammation, bleeding, scar)
- Transformation zone
Normal colposcopic findings
Squamous epithelium:
- Mature
- Atrophic
Abnormal colposcopic findings
General principles
Upper third /lower 2 thirds, Anterior/posterior/lateral (right or left),
Grade 1 (Minor)
- Thin aceto-white epithelium
- Fine punctuation
- Fine mosaic
Grade 2 (Major)
- Dense aceto-white epithelium,
- Coarse punctuation
- Coarse mosaic
Suspicious for invasion
- Atypical vessels
- Additional signs: Fragile vessels, Irregular surface, Exophytic lesion, Necrosis, Ulceration (necrotic), tumor/gross neoplasm
Non-specific
- Columnar epithelium (adenosis)
- Lesion staining by Lugol's solution (Schiller's test): Stained/non-stained,
- Leukoplakia
Miscellaneous findings
Erosion (traumatic), condyloma, polyp, cyst, endometriosis, inflammation, Vaginal stenosis, Congenital transformation zone
The IFCPC clinical and colposcopic terminology for the vulva is pending.
Bornstein J, Bentley J, Bosze P, Girardi F, Haefner H, Menton M, Perrotta M, Prendiville W, Russell P, Sideri M, Strander B, Torne A, Walker P. 2011 IFCPC colposcopic nomenclature. In preparation for publication