In another prospective study we evaluated the prevalence of pathognomonic and graduating signs in 338 patients attending our colposcopy clinic in 2014. In 75% of patients at least one pathognomonic sign was detected, 13% of patients showed only graduating signs and in 12% colposcopy was meaningless due to a transformation zone type 3.

In the 255 patients with pathognomonic signs cuffed crypt (gland) openings was the most prevalent sign, followed by ridge sign, rag sign and inner border sign. CIN 3 was detected histopathologically in 83% of patients with rag sign and 74% of patients with either of the other pathognomonic signs.

In the 44 patients without pathognomonic signs 52% showed CIN 1, 32% CIN 2 and 16% CIN 3, respectively.

In the whole cohort of patients which could be evaluated by colposcopy (n=299) 199 were diagnosed with CIN 3 of which only 7 women (3.5%) lacked pathognomonic signs.