Diagnosis
Your Pap test was a “screening” test to see if there are any cell changes. The sample taken by your doctor is taken to the laboratory, where pathologists determine if abnormal cells are present.
If abnormalities are detected, further tests will determine if you have preinvasive disease or cervical cancer. Your doctor will obtain a tissue sample (biopsy) for further study by conducting a colposcopy. For this procedure, a speculum is inserted into the vagina and a low-power microscope called a colposcope is used to closely see the vagina and cervix. This magnified view can help determine from exactly which area the biopsy should be taken.
A procedure called endocervical curettage (or scraping) is often done at the same time as a colposcopic biopsy to remove tissue from the endocervical canal. Another procedure that may be used is called a cone biopsy, in which the doctor removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix. If your doctor suspects that abnormal cells might be coming from the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), an endometrial biopsy may be performed.
If cervical cancer is diagnosed, most likely it will be squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, a cancer of cells that line the outer part of the cervix. In about 10% to 20% of cases, it will be diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, cancer of the cells lining the inner part of the cervix.
In some cases, patients may need imaging tests to determine if their cancer has spread. These may include a chest x-ray, a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), intravenous pyelogram (IVP), or a positron-emission tomography (PET) scan. See Diagnostic Radiology to learn more about these procedures.
About Staging
A process called staging is used to determine how much your cancer has spread and what treatment options will be considered.
-
Stage 0: The cancer is found only in the top layer of cells in the tissue that lines the cervix.
-
Stage I: The cancer has invaded the cervix beneath the top layer of cells. It is found only in the cervix.
-
Stage II: The cancer extends beyond the cervix into nearby tissues. It extends to the upper part of the vagina, but does not invade the lower third of the vagina or the pelvic wall.
-
Stage III: The cancer extends to the lower part of the vagina and may also have spread to the pelvic wall and nearby lymph nodes.
-
Stage IV: The cancer has spread to the bladder, rectum or other parts of the body.
-
Recurrent cancer: The cancer was treated but has returned after a period of time during which it could not be detected. The cancer may show up again in the cervix or in other parts of the body.
Learn More About Cervical Cancer
Request a Consultation with a UCSD Gynecologic Oncology Specialist Using our Online Form
Call our New Patient Office at (858) 822-6100, or toll-free (866) 773-2703