Combined Digital Colposcopy Analysis to Improve Cervical Precancer and Cancer Detection

British Columbia Cancer Agency551 enrolled

Overview

Precancerous lesions of the cervix occur frequently and are treatable. This justifies a population-based screening program. Following an abnormal Pap smear, patients are referred for a colposcopic exam to confirm the presence/stage of disease and select appropriate treatments. Unfortunately, these approaches do not detect all lesions or can sometimes give 'false positive' results (resulting in overtreatment). We are testing a device called a 'multispectral digital colposcope' to determine whether it is more effective at detecting precancerous cervical lesions than existing tools. Success in our study will make diagnoses more accurate and reduce the costs associated with unnecessary treatments.

The multispectral digital colposcope (MDC) is a specialized lightsource and imaging device mounted on a custom-made colposcope that acquires a sequence of fluorescence images. The MDC also consists of a point probe that is used to take detailed light measurements (call spectroscopy) from smaller regions of the cervix. The goal of the study is to see whether the MDC can perform better than standard methods in detecting cancerous or pre-cancerous abnormalities of the cervix. Study subjects will be HPV swabbed. After vinegar is applied on the cervix as per usual colposcopy practice, the MDC will then be used to take a sequence of images of the cervix. Next 2-4 readings will be taken from the cervix using the point probe. Study subjects may also be randomly asked to have additional pictures taken with another imaging device. a) The Fast Fluorescence Camera (FFC) is a modified digital camera that will capture images similar to that of the MDC. It will take a pair of images under two different lighting conditions - white light and violet light, both of which are used by the MDC. b) The Confocal Probe (CP) is a hand-held microscope used to collect images from the same location as the point probe. The cervix is topically stained with a fluorescent dye (Acriflavine) which is taken up by cell nuclei. The CP is then able to capture, in real time, images of the cells and their fluorescent nuclei. This data will be used to train, test and valid an algorithm specific to the MDC. The ability of the algorithm to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia will be compared to standard clinical care (colposcopy). The MDC images and pathology results will be compared to the spectroscopy data from the MDC probe. We will determine if spectroscopy has equal sensitivity to colposcopy for detecting high grade lesions.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

Multispectral Digital Colposcope (MDC)DEVICE

The MDC has 2 components: an optical probe \& a multispectral colposcope. The optical wand makes use of fluorescence \& reflectance spectroscopy; a light is shone on the cervix and the wand reports what it sees to a computer. Since cancer \& healthy cells interact differently with light, a computer can detect abnormalities. The multispectral colposcope is based on a conventional colposcope, which is already widely used. However, it is also able to produce fluorescence \& polarized reflectance images of the entire cervix. Computer analysis of these images can detect abnormalities on the cervix, defining their location and shape. This trial involves combined analysis of MDC data. This may lead to more effective diagnosis of cervical abnormalities. The MDC will be used with standard care for patients presenting with cervical abnormalities (as detected by a Pap test). The MDC will not be used to guide patient management decisions. All study subjects will receive this same intervention.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria: * Included subjects will be ≥18 years old. * Included subjects will not be pregnant or breast feeding. * Included subjects will have a negative urine pregnancy test. * Included subjects will be scheduled for colposcopy and/or LEEP treatment at the VGH Women's Clinic. * Included subjects will indicate understanding of the study. * Included subjects will provide informed consent to participate. Exclusion criteria: * Individuals \<18 years old will be excluded. * Pregnant and breast feeding individuals will be excluded. * Individuals that have had an operation to remove their cervix will be excluded.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Detection of cancer or pre-cancerous abnormalities of the cervix by multispectral digital colposcope.

All study subjects will be evaluated for cervical abnormalities by 1) standard colposcopy and 2) the trial device (multispectral digital colposcope + wand). Results from each device will be compared, both in terms of the presence/absence of abnormalities and the stage/grade of abnormalities detected by both tools. Histopathological review for cervical abnormalities will be taken as the gold standard against which standard colposcopy and trial device results are measured.

Time frame: Standard colposcopy and trial device (MDC + wand) results will be obtained during the clinic visit. Histopathological results for comparison will be available within a few days of the clinic visit.