Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
If you've had a smear test and received an abnormal result or are showing cervical cancer symptoms, then your gp will probably refer you for a colposcopy. A colposcopy is a medical procedure performed by a colposcopist which examines your cervix closely using a colposcope.
If any areas of abnormality are seen or suspected, a small sample may be taken and sent for laboratory examination. This will allow medics to see whether or not any abnormal cells have spread beyond your cervix.
If cervical cancer is detected then it will be necessary to find out whether the cancer is contained to one area or if it has spread. You may be sent for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, a computed tomography (CT) scan or an ultrasound scan.
Over the next few years it is expected that these scans will be replaced by a new type of scan known as a positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan.
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