THE MANAGEMENT OF CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA (CIN) - EXTENSIVENESS AND COSTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

In order to provide greater insight into both the extensiveness and th e medical costs of the diagnosis and treatment of screen-detected cerv ical intra-epithelial neoplasia (GIN) in general medical practice in T he Netherlands, data from national registries and gynaecology departme nts were retrieved, and experts were interviewed. Of the 5060 women di agnosed with CIN in 1988, more than 50% were treated in hospital with conisation or hysterectomy, which on average took 5.5 days stay per ad mission. The assessed average duration of the total pre- and posttreat ment period is 4.6 years. The average total medical costs in women wit h detected CIN III are Dfl 3700 per woman. The diagnosis of CIN I and II involves more medical procedures and time than CIN III, but fewer w omen have conisation or hysterectomy, resulting in lower total medical costs (Dfl 2572). The overall extent and costs of the management of C IN should be accounted for when balancing the benefits, unfavourable e ffects and costs of cervical cancer screening.