Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer: The Path to Modern Medicine
Cervical cancer was a malignant tumour that posed a serious threat to women ‘ s health, and early and accurate diagnosis was essential to improving the rate of cure and the quality of survival of patients. So how does modern medicine detect cervical cancer? Let’s find out.
I. Cervical cytology
This is an important method of screening for cervical cancer, including mainly pap smears and liquid-based cytology (TCT).
Pap smears: Doctors use a special scratchboard to scrape cells from the surface of the cervix, and then evenly rub them on the tablets and then observe the cell form under the microscope. If cell anomalies are observed, such as cell nucleus increase, irregular morphology, chromosomal increase, etc., it is possible to suggest that there is a cervix. However, pap smears may lead to overlaps or loss of some cells due to factors in the extraction of materials, production, etc., affecting the accuracy of the diagnosis.
TCT: It is an improved inspection method based on Pap smears. It is also used to collect cells from the cervix by special means, but the cells collected are placed in special preservation fluids, which, after a series of treatments, are made into even thin coatings and dyeing observations. TCT screening provides a clearer picture of cell forms, significantly reduces problems of cell overlap, loss, and increases the sensitivity and accuracy of detection of cervical pathologies, one of the means of screening for cervical cancer that is currently widely used.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection
Since HPV infection is a key factor in the occurrence of cervical cancer, detection of HPV infection is also important for the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Doctors detect HPV by collecting cervix. There are many methods of detection, such as multiple HPV subtypes, which not only know if they are infected, but also specify which subtypes are infected, in which high-risk HPV persistent infections are closely linked to cervical cancer.
HPV tests can be conducted alone or in conjunction with cervical cytology. Joint testing enables a more comprehensive assessment of the health status of the cervix, which is of great assistance in early detection of cervical cancer and pre-cancer pathologies.
Vagina lenses
Cervical cytology or HPV detections reveal anomalies, followed by vaginal lenses.
The vaginal lens is an instrument that can amplify local images of the cervix, which can magnify the cervix surface several times to dozens of times, allowing doctors to observe more clearly the morphology of the cervix, colours, blood vessels, etc. During a vaginal examination, doctors spray some acetic acid and iodine solutions on the cervix surface, and different pathologies react to these solutions, which allow for a more accurate assessment of the extent and extent of the disease.
If a suspicious pathogen is found under a vaginal lens, the doctor may also take some tissues here for a biopsy, which is a crucial step in the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Cervical examination
Cervical screening is the “gold standard” for identifying cervical cancer. When a vaginal examination reveals a suspicious disease, the doctor takes a small tissue from the cervix area with a specially designed biopsy, which is then sent to the pathology, where a specialist pathologist looks at the morphology, structure, etc. of the cell under the microscope and determines whether it is a cancer cell and the type, degree of dichotomy, etc.
Cervical screening makes it possible to determine whether or not the cervix has cancer and, if so, what type of cancer it is, which is essential for the development of follow-up treatment programmes.
V. Imaging inspection
In the diagnosis of cervical cancer, video screening also plays a supporting role.
Ultrasound: The pelvic cavity can be scanned by an ultrasound, which shows the size, morphology, internal structure, etc. of the cervix, as well as the presence of cervix carving disorders and the influence on the surrounding organ. Ultrasound screening has a relatively limited diagnostic value for early cervical cancer, but it has some help in the stratification of cervical cancer and in observing the effects of treatment.
CT: The CT examination allows for a fault scan of the pelvic cavity and abdomen, which clearly shows the size, shape, location of the cervical tumour, as well as the lymphoma swollen, long-range transfer, etc. It is important for the chronology of cervical cancer and for the development of treatment programmes, especially in determining whether cervical cancer has spread elsewhere.
MRI Inspection: MRI Inspection uses magnetic field and radio waves to visualize the human body, which is more capable of identifying soft tissues. In the diagnosis of cervical cancer, MRI screening can show more accurately the extent of cervical tumours, their relationship to surrounding tissues and the presence of soft tissue insulation, and is also important for the phasing of cervical cancer and for the development of treatment programmes.
Modern medical detection of cervical cancer uses a variety of methods, each with advantages and disadvantages. In practice, these methods often need to be applied in combination, firstly through cervical cytology tests and HPV tests, and then, as the case may be, further diagnostics, such as vaginal lens examinations, cervical biopsies and visual examinations, in order to more accurately diagnose cervical cancer and provide a strong basis for the treatment of patients.
