Speculoscopy
Encyclopedia
Speculoscopy is a procedure in which a special blue-white light (Speculite) is used to examine the cervix
for cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions.
Acetic acid is applied to the cervix, it is let sit for 60 seconds, then the cervix is examined with 4-6x magnification. The light is generated by a chemiluminescent light stick, which is attached to the inner side of the upper blade of the vaginal speculum by an adhesive strip. The test can be used to complement a pap smear in screening of cervical cancer
. A negative speculoscopy, along with a negative pap smear provides greater assurance of absence of disease.
It was developed in 1988. It was FDA approved as an add-on to Pap smear screening in 1995.
At this time there is no CPT/HCPCS code for this and most medical insurance companies do not cover this procedure.
Light strip provides light for 15–20 minutes.
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
for cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions.
Acetic acid is applied to the cervix, it is let sit for 60 seconds, then the cervix is examined with 4-6x magnification. The light is generated by a chemiluminescent light stick, which is attached to the inner side of the upper blade of the vaginal speculum by an adhesive strip. The test can be used to complement a pap smear in screening of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
. A negative speculoscopy, along with a negative pap smear provides greater assurance of absence of disease.
It was developed in 1988. It was FDA approved as an add-on to Pap smear screening in 1995.
At this time there is no CPT/HCPCS code for this and most medical insurance companies do not cover this procedure.
Light strip provides light for 15–20 minutes.