Abstract
Introduction Gynecologic dysplasia units and dysplasia consultations are obliged to offer diagnosis
and treatment in accordance with the guidelines. The organization of the
consultation process, management of patient appointments, diagnosis, and treatment
algorithms are heterogeneous. The legislation arising from the new Federal Joint Committee
decision, dated
22 November 2018, concerning the organized cervical cancer screening program has been
in force since 1 January 2020. In this article we provide an overview of the existing
structures and
interdisciplinary cooperation of specialized dysplasia units incorporated in certified
gynecologic cancer center.
Materials and Methods We carried out a retrospective database search of data collected prospectively from
1 July 2014 to 31 December 2019 at the dysplasia unit at the Department of
Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, which was the first dysplasia
unit to be certified in 2014.
Results A total of 5594 patients presented at the unit, and 16061 colposcopic, vulvoscopic,
and anoscopic examinations were performed. Approximately 4100 examinations of the
cervix,
vagina, vulva, and anus are carried out each year, 1600 of these were exclusively
cervix colposcopies. A total of 12197 cytology results were assessed, as well as 4850
histology results, and
8193 high-risk HPV tests. The quality indicators required by the dysplasia unit for
annual recertification were met each year.
Conclusion Certified dysplasia units and consultations form the central component in the algorithm
for further investigating abnormal screening results; but they are also the first
point of contact for a large number of patients with acute or chronic complaints in
the genital region.
Keywords dysplasia unit - dysplasia - Pap smear - HPV - colposcopy
