title: Conservative management of stage IA1 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with positive resection margins after conization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of cold knife conization with electrocauterization and the feasibility of conservative management in patients with stage IA1 carcinoma of the cervix according to margin status after conization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and histopathological records of 108 patients with stage IA1 cervical carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively. Patients underwent cold knife conization with electrocauterization or conization followed by hysterectomy. Disease recurrence was defined as a histologic diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or higher grade lesion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients underwent conization followed by hysterectomy; of 27 women with positive margins, 14 (35%) had a residual lesion. Sixty-eight patients underwent conization without further surgical intervention. Forty patients had a negative resection margin without recurrence, while 28 had a positive resection margin: positive exocervical (n=11), positive endocervical (n=17). Among these, there were 7 cases of recurrence: positive exocervical (n=1); positive endocervical (n=6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cold knife conization with electrocauterization appears to be a safe treatment option for patients with stage IA1 cervical carcinoma if careful follow-up is guaranteed for patients with CIN 3 exocervical resection margins. However, patients with CIN 3 endocervical resection margins should be managed surgically with repeat conization or hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ajou University Hospital, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 443-721, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Suk-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ki-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hee-Sug
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019092:Conization / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*