Colposcopic findings and intraepithelial neoplasia in diethylstilbestrol-exposed offspring

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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