Cervical cancer screening

Biopsy procedures
While the pap smear is an effective screening test, confirmation of the diagnosis of cervical cancer or pre-cancer requires a biopsy of the cervix. This is often done through colposcopy, a magnified visual inspection of the cervix aided by using an acetic acid (e.g. vinegar) solution to highlight abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix.

Further diagnostic procedures are loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP) and conization, in which the inner lining of the cervix is removed to be examined pathologically. These are carried out if the biopsy confirms severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Pathologic types
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, the precursor to cervical cancer, is often diagnosed on examiniation of cervical biopsies by a pathologist. Histologic subtypes of invasive cervical carcinoma include the following:
 * squamous cell carcinoma (about 80-85%)
 * adenocarcinoma
 * adenosquamous carcinoma
 * small cell carcinoma
 * neuroendocrine carcinoma

Non-carcinoma malignancies which can rarely occur in the cervix include
 * melanoma
 * lymphoma