Diagnosis by colposcopy: High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL)

(Content revised 04/2023)

If you have been diagnosed with High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL) by colposcopy, what does this mean? [Remarks: HSIL was formerly known as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) II/III]

  • If a woman who has undergone colposcopy and/or biopsy has been diagnosed with Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL), it means that the cells of the cervix are abnormal and have changed in appearance.
  • If your colposcopy report shows HSIL, this means that you have moderate to severe cervical cell changes, and you have been given appropriate treatment in the hospital or specialist clinic. In the meantime, you need to have regular and more frequent follow-up cervical smears to monitor your condition.

When should I receive the follow-up cervical smears?

According to the ‘Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening' published by the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, after colposcopy you will need repeat smear tests every 6 months until you have 3 consecutive normal cervical smears. Then, you will need annual cervical smear for the next 10 years. If all the cervical smears are normal, you will need to continue lifelong cervical screening. Exit from lifelong routine screening may be considered after 20 years if all routine screening results are normal and the woman has reached the age of 65.

If your report is abnormal during follow-up, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly.

For any enquiry, please contact our medical and nursing staff.