Colposcopic findings and intraepithelial neoplasia in diethylstilbestrol-exposed offspring

The Dutch experience, 1989

Colposcopy-Procedure image
Colposcopy in DES-exposed offspring in inexperienced hands can result in many unnecessary biopsies. Therefore colposcopic examination should be performed by expert colposcopists in referral diethylstilbestrol centers.
Colposcopy procedure image via colposcopyinfo.

1990 Study Abstract

Data from two regional diethylstilbestrol clinics for colposcopic evaluation of young women with a history of diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero are presented:

A total of 224 subjects with a well-documented history were enrolled in this study.

  • Structural anomalies of the cervix and vagina were found in 30%.
  • Vaginal epithelial changes were colposcopically observed in 65%,
  • including vaginal adenosis in 22%.
  • The prevalence rate of abnormal cytologic findings in the study group was 9%.
  • In half of these patients a low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix and vagina was found.

It was concluded that colposcopy in diethylstilbestrol-exposed offspring in inexperienced hands can result in many unnecessary biopsies. Therefore colposcopic examination should be performed by expert colposcopists in referral diethylstilbestrol centers.

Sources and more information
  • Colposcopic findings and intraepithelial neoplasia in diethylstilbestrol-exposed offspring. The Dutch experience, NCBI PubMed PMID: 2589438, Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Nov;161(5):1191-4.
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