title: Cone biopsy of the cervix: does surgical technique influence cytological follow-up?
abstract: A 10-year experience of cone biopsy of the cervix was reviewed to determine whether the surgical method used delayed the diagnosis of recurrent disease. Although there is a trend to selective ablation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, cone biopsy is a necessary adjunct to the colposcopist and remains the technique used by many gynaecologists. Two surgical techniques were compared; 1) Sturmdorf sutures, where the denuded cervical stump was covered by squamous epithelium 2) Interrupted vertical sutures, where the cervical epithelium was not covered. There was a 15% incidence of recurrent disease which was related to the completeness of initial excision and the age of the patient. The surgical technique employed did not influence the future cytological follow-up nor delay the diagnosis of recurrent disease.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, National Women's Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Pattison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001706:Biopsy; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002425:Cautery; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*