OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of domestically manufactured digital colposcope system (SLC-2000) in the detection of early cervical lesions.

METHODSDuring a follow-up study of patients in Xiangyuan county, Shanxi, a high risk area for cervical cancer, a digital colposcope and an optical colposcope were randomly used for diagnosis, with pathology as the gold standard.

RESULTSIn 163 cervical biopsy specimens, 103 were diagnosed as chronic inflammation by histologic examination. Among 60 specimens which gave abnormal pathology, there were papilloma 1, cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) I 37, CIN II 18 and CIN III 4. In 33 endocervical curettage specimens, 3 were pathologically positive. Comparing the digital and optical colposcope in diagnosing the positive lesions of > or = CIN I, the sensitivity of the former and latter were 83.3% and 95.0%, the difference without being statistically significant (P = 0.075). The specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy of these two instruments were 61.2%, 21.4%, 55.6% and 41.3%, 69.3% 48.5%, with significant difference (P = 0.000, P = 0.035, and P = 0.000). In diagnosing > or = CIN II cervical lesions, these three results of the two instruments did not show any significant difference either. The negative predictive value of the digital and optical colposcope were 86.3% and 88.0%, also showing no significant difference (P = 0.075).

CONCLUSIONThe specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy of the digital colposcope in diagnosing cervical lesions > or = CIN I are all superior to those of the traditional optical colposcope, even though the sensitivity of the latter is higher. There is no difference between the two instruments in diagnosing lesions > or = CIN II. Not only is domestic digital colposcope (SLC-2000) effective, but feasible and practical in the diagnosis, research and follow-up of cervical lesions.