Publication:

To study the role of visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid (VIA) in cervical cancer screening

Background Objectives of current study were to evaluate visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid in picking up abnormal cervix and to correlate the findings of VIA with Pap smear, colposcopy and cervical biopsy.

Methods Study was conducted on 300 sexually active women attending the gynaecological OPD at Dayanand medical college and hospital, Ludhiana. All patients underwent VIA & Pap smear screening and if either of the two was abnormal, colposcopy was done & colposcopic guided cervical biopsy was taken if indicated. Total 105 colposcopies were done. Cervical biopsy was taken in 87 cases and the results were compared and statistically analysed.

Results The sensitivity of VIA was 86% and specificity 40.50%. No case was missed by VIA when cut off was taken as moderate dysplasia or higher lesions on biopsy.

Conclusions VIA is a sensitive, practical and a low cost affair in cervical cancer screening.