Residual and recurrent disease rates following LEEP treatment in high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions

INTRODUCTION

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a basic procedure in the conization performed on patients with CIN II/III. After excisional therapy, close follow up is essential for the earlier detection of residual and recurrent disease. The value of PAP-smear and HPV-DNA tests for investigation of residual and recurrent disease in patients diagnosed with high-grade intraepithelial lesion after LEEP treatment was purposed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

42 patients were included in the study for whom epithelial cell anomalies were detected at PAP-smear screening. HPV-DNA test, colposcopy, cervical biopsy and endocervical curettage and then LEEP procedures were performed. The patients were followed with HPV DNA and PAP-smear tests in terms of recurrence and residual disease at 3-month intervals.

RESULTS

HPV-DNA examination revealed that 36 patients (85.7%) were positive for high-risk HPV-DNA before treatment. Histopathological evaluation of LEEP materials revealed the presence of CIN I in 4 and CIN II/III in 38 patients. Surgical margin was positive in five patients. No sign of invasive cervical neoplasia was detected. The high-risk HPV DNA's persistence was observed in 11 (30.6%) of the 36 patients of whom HPV-DNA positivity had been detected before the treatment. HSIL was detected in four patients using PAP-smear on the third month examination. Positive LEEP surgical margins were found to be positively correlated both with HPV-DNA positivity detected during the follow-up examination and with the presence of residual disease in the follow-up PAP smear.

CONCLUSION

LEEP is a basic procedure in the conization performed on patients with CIN II/III. In spite of high recurrence and residual disease rates, this kind of patients requires close monitoring. Follow-up with HPV and PAP-smear tests after LEEP treatment is of great importance in the detection of residual or recurrent disease.