LASER CONIZATION - THE RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA

Combination laser conization was performed for the treatment of cervic al intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in 473 patients, who were followed for a mean period of 70 months. In 16 cases (3.4%) CIN was demonstrate d during follow up, and in 10 cases (2.1%) within the first year after treatment. The grade of CIN in the cone specimen was of no predictive value to recurrence. When excisional margins were involved recurrence was observed in 8.7% of cases, compared to 2.3% when margins were uni nvolved. The risk of recurrence was significantly higher in patients w ith involvement of the endocervical cone margin. The only case of inva sive disease during follow-up was observed more than 2 years after con ization; cone biopsy was without involved margins. The results clearly demonstrate the method to be effective and justify an expectant manag ement of all patients after conization by this method. (C) 1994 Academ ic Press, Inc.