Diagnosis, investigations and tests

Colposcopy –A specialist doctor or nurse will use a microscope called a colposcope to take a closer look at your vagina. This will be done in an outpatients’ clinic and usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes. During the colposcopy a biopsy may also be taken, so that pathologists can look at cells from your vagina under a microscope. Read more about what to expect during a colposcopy on the Macmillan website (opens in new tab).

 

CT scan - CT scans take pictures of your body. If vaginal cancer is suspected you will have an abdomen and pelvis CT. This normally takes around 10 minutes. Find out more about CT scans.

 

MRI scan - MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create a cross-sectional picture of the body. You will have an MRI scan to see if your cancer has spread. The scan itself normally takes around 45 minutes to one hour. Discover more about MRI scans.

 

PET scan – Position emission tomography (PET) scans produce detailed three-dimensional images of inside the body. The images can clearly show the part of the body being investigated, including any abnormal areas which appears bright on the scan suggesting potential cancer spread. Discover more about PET scans.