Cancer prevention

The cancer prevention centre of the Ambicare Clinic is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of precancerous changes in the female external and internal genital organs. Our patients are referred to a specialised outpatient clinic on the basis of consultation with the treating gynaecologist.
A large percentage of our clients are women with abnormal cervical findings before pregnancy or during menopause. The most common reasons for examination are an abnormal cytological or colposcopic finding and a family history of cervical cancer. Our doctors always proceed in accordance with the latest guidelines of the professional society for cervical pathology and hold the F017 functional licence for expert colposcopy.

We always try our best to explain the issue to the patient and suggest the best solution. If necessary, we will provide subsequent surgical treatment.

Services provided

R

HPV testing

Cancer prevention doctors

MUDr. Anna Havránková

doctor specialising in expert colposcopy

Biopsy

Painless collection of a small tissue sample directly from the cervix, performed on an outpatient basis, possibly under local anaesthesia. The tissue sample is then sent to a lab for histological examination. We also perform this invasive examination in our expert colposcopy clinic – Ambicare Gynaecology Prague 4.

Cytology

Cytology is a basic outpatient screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer. It is performed once a year and is recommended before the start of pregnancy and after childbirth. Together with colposcopy, it is the main part of the preventive examination of women of all age categories, including women in menopause. Sampling is performed from the surface of the cervix with a brush and the samples are sent to a cytology lab for microscopic analysis.

LBC Cytology

LBC cytology, or liquid-based cytology, is “extended” cytology into a liquid medium. Again, this method is painless, and is performed as part of gynaecological prevention on an outpatient basis at least once a year. The cells taken from the cervix are sent in a transport medium to the Biopsy Lab in Plzeň, where a detailed computer analysis of the sample is performed, including analysis by a specialist doctor known as a pathological cytologist. LBC cytology is more sensitive and accurate than traditional “glass” cytology, and thanks to the sample processing and control system, the risk of “missing” serious changes on the cervix is minimal.

Cervical conisation

Conisation is a surgical procedure that is performed when precancerous changes of the cervix or cervical cancer are suspected. It is performed with an electric loop under local or general anaesthesia.

HPV infection (human papillomavirus infection)

Human papillomavirus infection is a sexually transmitted disease that affects approximately 80% of women during their lifetime. In most cases, the infection is only temporary, because of the short biological clearance of the virus. 98% of cervical cancer is caused by high-risk HPV infection.

HPV testing

Virus testing is possible using a special PCR DNS sampling from the cervix, or as part of LBC cytology. In indicated cases, we can perform HPV testing in women over 30 years of age.

Diseases of the external genitalia and cervix

Precancerous conditions are the stage before cervical cancer; this is a serious disease mainly caused by infection with the high-risk HPV virus. The diagnosis of the disease depends on the availability of good diagnostic methods, such as expert colposcopy, cervical cytology, and HPV testing. If necessary and if cervical cancer is suspected, we can use histological examination of the tissue, known as biopsy.

Precancerous conditions are divided into two basic groups:

low-grade lesions – changes on the cervix of a low grade, where surgery is not always necessary
high-grade lesions – severe, high-grade changes that require surgery

Each therapeutic decision is always individual according to the patient’s age, planned pregnancy, childbirth, or a positive family history of cervical cancer.