title: Treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia with laser ablation and upper vaginectomy.
abstract: To assess the effectiveness of laser ablation and upper vaginectomy in the treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN), we have reviewed the charts of 52 patients managed with laser ablation (28 patients) and upper colpectomy (24 patients). On the basis of our results, patient selection and operator skill have a significant influence on the outcome. In posthysterectomy patients with VAIN(3) at the vaginal apex, in the region of vaginal cuff scar, upper vaginectomy is the treatment of choice, while multifocal VAIN(2-3) or colposcopically well defined lesions, involving large areas of vaginal mucosa, could be successfully managed by CO(2) laser ablation.
authors.affiliation: Colposcopy and Laser Surgery Unit, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Athens University, Athens, Greece. gynist@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diakomanolis
authors.forename: Alexadros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodolakis
authors.forename: Zanis
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Boulgaris
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blachos
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michalas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000601:surgery*; D020884:Colpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*