OBJECTIVE:

This study describes the colposcopic results of patients with cytological alterations in a Colombian institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODOS:

Observational Cross-sectional study based on retrospective data. Patients who underwent colposcopy due to abnormal cytologies during 2012-2106 were included. A stratified random sampling was carried out by age groups. The frequencies of colposcopic alterations and histological results were established.

RESULTS:

372 patients were selected. The main indication for colposcopy was the ASCUS report (70.6%), followed by LSIL (16.9%) and endocervical polyps (2.9%). Colposcopy was negative in 32% of the cases, positive in 31% and inflammation in 21%. The rest of cases corresponded to varied findings such as atrophy or polyps. Of the positive colposcopies the main report was minor changes or grade 1; especially in patients between 15-24 years. Of the patients with a biopsy, one case of adenocarcinoma (3.1%) and another of carcinoma in situ (3.1%) were reported in the same age group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The realization of colposcopy identified the high-grade lesions in this population, but also detected clinically insignificant low-grade lesions. Colposcopy is a key tool for the diagnosis of premalignant lesions of the cervix.