title: Stage Ia1 cervical squamous cell carcinoma: conservative management after laser conization with positive margins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cone margin status has been reported to be the most important predictor of recurrent disease in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) undergoing cervical conization. Our purpose was to evaluate the conservative management of selected patients with microinvasive (FIGO stage Ia1) squamous cell carcinoma who have been treated by cervical conization with positive margins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients underwent KTP laser conization and vaporization for stage Ia1 squamous cell carcinoma followed by careful observation. Involved margins were diagnosed if CIN III or more was present at the ectocervical or endocervical margin and 7 patients formed the basis of the present study. Follow-up consisted of cytology, histology, and pelvic examination. Disease recurrence was defined as a histology diagnosis of CIN III or more on colposcopically directed biopsy or endocervical curettage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endocervical margins were involved by carcinoma in situ in seven (26%) patients. No ectocervical margin involvement was detected. No lymph-vascular space involvement (LVSI) and confluent invasion were seen. All seven patients were free of recurrent disease during median follow-up of 4.0 (range 2.3-7.6) years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that laser conization and vaporization may be a reasonable treatment option in patients with microinvasive (FIGO Stage Ia1) squamous cell carcinoma despite positive cone margins without invasive disease when LVSI is not demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itsukaichi
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019092:Conization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*