Women in a region with high incidence of cervical cancer warrant immediate colposcopy for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cervical cytology

Frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or worse in women with a persistent low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion seen by Papanicolaou smears

PURPOSE

We investigated the frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade II or worse in low-income Brazilian women with persistent low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL).

METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records was performed for all patients who underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) with "see and treat" strategy for persistent LSIL seen on Papanicolaou (Pap) smears (persisting >12 months in at least two consecutive tests, over a 50-month period. We assessed the colposcopy and histopathology results at the time of the procedure and at follow-up, using Pap and histopathology.

RESULTS

Of 106 women, 48 (45.3 %) had no dysplasia by histopathology, 18 (17.0 %) had CIN I, 29 (27.4 %) had CIN II and 10 (9.4 %) had CIN III. Among the patients with CIN, 38 (66.7 %) performed the follow-up. Of these, only 4 (10.5 %) were classified as follow-up (+), all had CIN I. Women with initial CIN I had 16.7 % (n = 2) recurrences; those with initial CIN II had 5.9 % (n = 1); and those with initial CIN III had 11.1 % (n = 1) (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A very high proportion of the women with persistent LSIL had CIN II/III on post-LEEP histopathology. Recurrence rates were equal to than those that originally caused the patients to be subjected to LEEP (LSIL). The benefits of the "see and treat" protocol by LEEP for persistent LSIL outweigh the risk of overtreatment, principally in low-resource settings where poor patient compliance is expected, as in Brazil.

Visual inspection with acetic acid for detection of high grade lesion in atypical squamous cells and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions from cervical Pap smear

Objective

To evaluate the value of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) test to detect high grade lesion in women with atypical squamous cells or low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions cervical cytology.

Methods

Women with atypical squamous cells or low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions who were scheduled to undergo colposcopy at Vajira Hospital and met inclusion criteria were included. All participants underwent VIA test prior to usual steps of colposcopy. The VIA results were interpreted as positive or negative using the criteria by the International Agency for Cancer Research. The standard colposcopic examination and appropriate investigations for cervical pathology were then continued. The diagnostic values of VIA test including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were determined using high grade lesion including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2-3 and squamous cell carcinoma as a threshold.

Results

Total of 106 women was included. The VIA test was positive in 33 women (31.1%) and negative in 73 women (68.9%). Among the women with VIA test positive, 14 had high grade lesion (42.4%) while 19 had no significant lesions. Only 2/73 (2.7%) cases with negative VIA test had high grade lesion (both had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value with 95% confidence interval were 87.5% (81.2 to 93.8%), 78.8% (71.1 to 86.7%), 42.4% (33.0 to 51.8%), and 97.2% (94.2 to 1.0%) respectively.

Conclusion

VIA as the intermediate test in atypical squamous cells and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions cytology may reduce the necessity to refer some women for colposcopy.

High-grade histologic lesions in women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cytology from a region of Thailand with a high incidence of cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of and predictors for underlying significant lesions in women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) smears.

METHODS

Records were retrospectively reviewed for 208 women with LSIL who underwent colposcopy and histological evaluation from October 2004 through April 2009.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 38.5 years. Forty-four (21.2%) women were nulliparous; 20 (9.6%) women were postmenopausal; 29 (13.9%) women tested positive for HIV. Thirty-three (15.9%) women were current users of combined oral contraceptive pills. The pathological results of initial colposcopic evaluations were: 63 (30.3%) with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2-3; 62 (29.8%) with CIN 1; 4 (1.9%) with cervical cancer; and 79 (38.0%) with no epithelial lesion. Current use of combined oral contraceptive pills, a positive HIV test, and multiparity were significant independent predictors for high-grade disease.

CONCLUSION

Approximately one-third of women with LSIL in our population have underlying significant lesions. Current use of combined oral contraceptive pills, a positive HIV test, and multiparity are significant predictors for high-grade lesions.