The utility of microsurgical loupes in performing colposcopy: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare microsurgical loupes to traditional colposcopes with regard to physician comfort, efficiency and accuracy in performing colposcopy. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. Colposcopy was performed using microsurgical loupes and traditional colposcopes on the same set of patients. Time to completion, biopsies to be taken, and comfort level associated with examination for each method were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were included in this study. It took significantly less time to evaluate the cervix with loupes (mean: 72.4 ± 39.7 seconds) compared to the colposcope (102.3 ± 48.9 seconds; P < 0.001). The comfort level for using loupes was better than that for colposcopes (2.8 ± 2.4 vs. 5.7 ± 2.8, respectively; P < 0.001). The probability that the lesions to be biopsied matched for both modalities was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81 - 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical loupes have comparable accuracy to traditional colposcopes, but with shorter exam time and better comfort for the provider.