Sharp and elevated borders relative to normal squamous epithelium may indicate the presence of invasive cancer. Colposcopic findings in a 29-year-old gravida 0 with no prior history of disease. Her smear was reported as class V-p, and HPV 16 was detected. Colposcopy shows a sharply defined atypical T-zone type 2 that is elevated relative to the squamous epithelium. It is classified as abnormal colposcopic finding suspicious for cancer.

Histopathology of tissue sampled by loop biopsy shows atypical cells that have penetrated the basement membrane and infiltrated the stroma. The margins of the cancer are sharply defined (see arrow). The diagnosis is undifferentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Following laparoscopic sentinel lymphadenectomy and radical vaginal trachelectomy, the disease was finally staged as pT1b1 pN0 (0/2 sn) G3 L0 V0 Pn0.