title: Outcome of cold coagulation for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in a department of genitourinary medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of "cold coagulation" as a treatment modality for major grade cervical pathology, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2 and 3) in a department of genitourinary medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective programme trial with 18 month follow-up of patients undergoing "cold coagulation" of the cervical transformation zone following colposcopic assessment and biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A genitourinary medicine colposcopy clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  125 female patients with histologically proven major cervical pathology (CIN 2 and 3). The mean age of the patients was 24.5 years; 73% were unmarried, 43% currently smoked and 62% had a history of exposure to the human papilloma virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eradication of cervical abnormality with cytological findings at 4, 8 and 12 months and colposcopy at 18 months, with intervention colposcopic assessment if follow-up cytology was abnormal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eradication of CIN was achieved in 96.5% of patients, the majority of treatment failures being detected at first cytology. Attendance for follow-up was good, with only a 16% default rate. Final colposcopy yielded five treatment failures. No major complications were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm that "cold coagulation" provides an acceptable, efficient and effective, low cost consumer friendly treatment for CIN 2 and CIN 3 in an out-patient genitourinary medicine colposcopy clinic.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Liverpool, University Hospital.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bodha
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Alawattegama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000601:surgery*; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*