title: Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: experience with the low-voltage diathermy loop.
abstract: Eighty patients with cervical abnormalities that were proved by colposcopy were treated with the low-voltage diathermy loop by excision biopsy of isolated lesions (n = 14), excision of the transformation zone (n = 52), or by cone biopsy (n = 14). Treatment was performed at the time of initial assessment with the patient under a local anesthetic. Treatment proved acceptable to patients and minimal discomfort was reported. Primary hemorrhage was not a problem, although secondary hemorrhage occurred in 3.7% of patients. Excision was histologically complete in 85% of cases, and excision was clinically complete in the remaining cases. Diathermy coagulation to the base of the lesion ensured hemostasis and destroyed any residual cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Follow-up cytologic findings were normal in 91% of patients at 3 months, and colposcopy showed no abnormality in 95% of patients at 6 months. The squamocolumnar junction was fully visible in 91% of patients. Thus excisional techniques with the low-voltage diathermy loop appear to be a viable treatment option for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Horton General Hospital, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Oláh
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology