Under the national cervical cancer screening guidelines, VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) is used as a primary screening tool at the HWC level. VIA is considered positive when which finding is observed?

• A Any acetowhite area anywhere on the ectocervix or vaginal walls
• B Dense, well-defined acetowhite area close to or touching the squamocolumnar junction ✓
• C Thin, diffuse acetowhite reaction in the peripheral cervix only
• D Acetowhite area found exclusively in the endocervical canal

Explanation

VIA is positive when a dense (opaque), well-defined acetowhite area (turns white after applying 3–5% acetic acid) is seen close to or abutting the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) or the external os. Thin, irregular, or peripheral acetowhitening is considered negative or indeterminate. A positive VIA in NPCDCS triggers immediate colposcopy or LEEP/cryotherapy under a 'see-and-treat' protocol at district hospitals.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.