 |
Cancer of the Cervix - Diagnosis
|
|||||||
                
|
Contents
Workup for Suspected or Diagnosed Cervical CancerSigns/symptoms of suspected malignancy
Initial Patient AssessmentGeneral physical and pelvic examination is of paramount importance in the primary assessment of a patient with suspected or diagnosed cervical cancer. A general physical examination of the patient to assess their general physical wellbeing should be undertaken. Special attention should be paid to the palpation of supraclavicular and groin lymph nodes to exclude evidence of distant or regional metastatic disease respectively. On pelvic examination a speculum examination of the vagina and cervix should be undertaken in order to assess accurately the size and extent of the primary lesion. The vagina should also be carefully assessed for evidence of extension of the malignancy beyond the cervix. Digital vaginal examination should be undertaken to assess the size and consistency of the cervix and to feel for any evidence of induration in the vaginal fornices or vaginal walls suggestive of spread of the cancer beyond the cervix. Rectal examination should be undertaken with special reference to the presence of any induration in the parametrium. The mobility of the central tumour should be assessed, and any evidence of asymmetry between the two parametrium should be noted as this is suggestive of the spread of the cancer into the parametrium. Combined simultaneous rectal and vaginal examination is very helpful but may require examination under anaesthetic. Pre-Treatment Investigations
Professor Alex J. Crandon PhD (Leeds), F.R.C.O.G. (Lond), F.R.A.C.O.G.,
C.G.O.
|
Email
us
|
