Speculoscopy is a procedure in which a special blue-white light (Speculite) is used to examine the
cervix
The cervix or cervix uteri (Latin, 'neck of the uterus') is the lower part of the uterus (womb) in the human female reproductive system. The cervix is usually 2 to 3 cm long (~1 inch) and roughly cylindrical in shape, which changes during ...
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
A speculum (Latin for 'mirror'; plural specula or speculums) is a medical tool for investigating body orifices, with a form dependent on the orifice for which it is designed. In old texts, the speculum may also be referred to as a diopter or di ...
by an adhesive strip. The test can be used to complement a
pap smear
The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in t ...
in screening of
cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal ...
. 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.
[Press release: New screening exam, used with Pap smear, improves cervical screening.]
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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.
References
External links
Speculite
Female genital procedures
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