Type 3 Transformation Zone of the Cervix and Risk of Missed Lesions during Cervical Cancer Screening with Visual Methods: A Case Report from Cameroon

Abstract

Type 3 transformation zone (TZ) of the cervix poses a challenge in cervical cancer screening with visual techniques because of the potential for missing important precancerous lesions. This paper presents two case reports of women with Type 3 TZs who were screened with visual methods at the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, had reassuring screening results, but presented soon after with invasive cervical cancer (ICC). It is likely that at the time of their initial screening, they already had high grade precancer or early ICC that were involving the TZ beyond the examiner's view.