The introduction of colposcopy and exfoliative cytology as a means of
examining the cervix uteri has opened up the possibility of studying the
preceding and early stages of invasive carcinoma of the cervix and has
also brought to light a number of conditions which are possibly only
indirectly related, if related at all, to cervical neo- with
histological evaluation it is possible to plasia. Using these methods
combined gain some insight into the natural history of cervical
carcinoma. The importance of this is not confined to the cervix for, in
this respect, the cervical lesions may prove a paradigm for those of the
bladder, stomach and elsewhere. At present the broad outline of the
natural history of these cervical lesions is emerging but the temporal
and spatial relationships of the various phases is unclear, largely
because of the number of possibilities envisaged which involves more
vari- ables than can be controlled in anyone investigation. In this
monograph we have endeavoured to indicate the limitations of the various
approaches and to stress the need for controlling the accuracy of
assessment whether it be histological, cytological or colposcopic.