Getting the right diagnosis is critical to your treatment plan, but a diagnosis is only as good as the tools doctors have at their disposal.
Imagine, for example, how difficult it must have been to diagnose so many conditions, from pneumonia to a cyst or a tumor, without the aid of imaging technology like X-rays, computed tomography (CT scans), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In the world of gynecology, a colposcope is a tool that is equally as important. It allows your doctor to perform a colposcopy to detect abnormalities of the cervix, vulva, and vagina through high-resolution magnification.
Here at the Miami Institute of Urogynecology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Dr. Peter Khamvongsa uses a game-changing diagnostic tool called the Digital DysisⓇ colposcope, which enables him to perform this in-office, noninvasive test with even more precision and information.
The quality and design of a diagnostic screening tool greatly impacts how much it can assist a physician.
What makes the Digital Dysis technology superior for colposcopy is that it offers high-resolution live imaging of your targeted tissue. This helps Dr. Khanvongsa to see and identify areas of concern more clearly, and it directs him more decisively to do a biopsy if needed.
It has a cervical mapping capability that other colposcopes aren’t equipped with, which better identifies areas of concern. This technology upgrades your colposcopy from standard to advanced.
When Dr. Khamvongsa performs a colposcopy, he examines your tissue using a magnifying lens and a light, and the procedure is augmented further by an interactive touch screen. The colposcope is also ergonomically designed for greater patient comfort.
Through colposcopy, Dr. Khamvongsa can diagnose gential warts, cervix inflammation, or cervicitis, and he can detect precancerous changes in your cervix, vagina, or vulva. The test also allows him to track any abnormal results from your Pap smear, including taking a small tissue sample for a cervical biopsy if necessary.
We make sure you’re comfortable in our exam room, and Dr. Khamvongsa applies a liquid to your cervix that whitens any abnormal cells to make them visible. After the liquid takes effect, he uses the colposcope to collect images of the tissue in question. The special mapping software then clearly illuminates any abnormal cells.
With this very specific clinical information, Dr. Khamvongsa can diagnose your condition and develop your customized treatment plan.
Dr. Khamvongsa can also use this technology to examine your vagina and vulva for irregularities if you’re experiencing:
It’s often a great relief to our patients when we explain that a colposcopy takes, on average, less than 30 minutes, and there’s no downtime afterwards.
If your colposcopy reflects the need for a biopsy, Dr. Khamvongsa applies a topical numbing agent and takes a small tissue sample for testing. Any post-biopsy discomfort is minimal and brief, and we instruct you specifically on how to care for the area.
Call our office at 786-220-8664 to learn more about our advanced digital colposcopy procedure, or request an appointment online from the comfort of your home.
