Explanation and Use of the Rio 2011 Colposcopy Nomenclature of the IFCPC (International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy): Comments on the general colposcopic assessment of the uterine cervix: adequate/inadequate; squamocolumnar junction; transformation zone.

In July 2012 the IFCPC adopted a revised terminology for colposcopic examinations of the uterine cervix. In 2012, the Boards of the (AGK - Austrian Society of Colposcopy), the (AGKOL - Swiss Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology) and the (AGCPC - German Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology) accepted the validity of the 2011 IFCPC nomenclature and recommended its use in general clinical practice across German-speaking countries. The revised nomenclature was devised so that examiners can evaluate colposcopic criteria according to a specific scheme. At the start of the examination, the examiner must assess whether the colposcopy is representative or not. 1. Can the examination be classed as adequate or inadequate (reasons must be given)? 2. How would you describe the visibility of the squamocolumnar junction and categorize the transformation zone? Below we discuss some aspects of this general assessment as outlined in the nomenclature which were found to require further clarification for general practice.