Several possible causes of cervical acetowhite epithelium

The normal squamous epithelium inside the cervix and vagina appears smooth and pink under colposcopy. The epithelial cells do not fade after applying 3% acetic acid. When the cervix has chronic changes, the epithelial cells will swell rapidly and turn white after applying 3% acetic acid, showing changes similar to red grapes. This is called the acetic acid test. The causes of cervical acetowhite epithelial cells are primarily chronic cervicitis and cervical erosion, and may also be cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. However, a positive acetowhite cervical epithelial cell test cannot be used as a diagnosis of cancer. If the cervical acetowhite test is positive, further cervical puncture biopsy and cervical TCT examination are recommended for diagnosis.

Cervical acetowhitening refers to an experimental method in which doctors rub 3% acetic acid onto the cervix. Under normal circumstances, when a woman is examined under colposcopy without applying acetic acid, the surface of her cervix is ​​smooth. If acetic acid is used, it may become white and swollen, which basically proves that the woman's cervix has inflammation, metaplastic epithelial cells or intestinal metaplasia, which is abnormal. A pathological puncture biopsy is required under colposcopy to confirm the diagnosis. The cervical acetic acid white test is a common test method for screening cervical diseases. It can detect cervical diseases early and give medication or surgical treatment as soon as possible to prevent cervical malignant diseases. Women need to eliminate Trichomonas vaginitis before doing the cervical acetic acid white test.

When doing a colposcopy, there is a procedure that requires applying acetic acid on the cervical epithelium. If a thin layer of milky white acetic acid epithelium appears, it clinically indicates that there is a high possibility that this point has not become diseased. If thick white acetic acid epithelial cells appear with very clear boundaries, it most likely indicates that there is a possibility of cervical epithelial degeneration at that location. For example, if it is a low-grade disease or a high-grade disease, a puncture biopsy is required here. The biopsy was sent for pathological examination, and the final diagnosis was based on pathological diagnosis.

It is recommended that women undergo cervical cancer screening once a year. If there are any abnormalities in the cervical cancer screening or if there is a high risk of HPV infection, a colposcopy should be performed. The need for a puncture biopsy will be determined based on the results of the colposcopy. In clinical medicine, the puncture biopsy needs to be sent for pathological examination, which is the final clinical diagnosis.