Objective
The aim of the study was to determine which women require loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cervical conization (cone) to exclude cervical cancer after colposcopy for evaluation of abnormal cervical cancer screening tests yet before simple hysterectomy.
Materials and Methods
Review of electronic medical records from colposcopy clinics followed by chart review of women with cervical cancer was conducted.
Results
Of 18,537 cervical colposcopies for evaluation of abnormal cervical cancer screening tests, 0.6% (103/18,537) had cervical cancer; of 103 women with cervical cancer, 57 had neither cervical biopsy nor endocervical curettage (ECC) showing cancer or rule-out cancer (occult cancers) and were diagnosed by subsequent LEEP (n = 22), cone (n = 31), failed cone (n = 1), or hysterectomy (n = 3). The relative risk of occult cervical cancer at colposcopy for ECC of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or CIN 3 versus ECC not CIN 2 or CIN 3 was 51.5 (5.0% vs 0.1%), for cervical biopsy of CIN 3 versus not CIN 3, was 34.5 (3.9% vs 0.1%), and for colposcopic impression of CIN 2, CIN 3, or cancer (CIN 2+) versus impression not CIN 2+, was 8.5 (1.9% vs 0.2%). If the 10.9% (2,018/18,537) of colposcopies with ECC of CIN 2 or CIN 3, cervical biopsy of CIN 3, or colposcopic impression of CIN 2+ had subsequent LEEP or cone, 96.5% (55/57) of occult cervical cancers would be detected before hysterectomy.
Conclusions
After colposcopy, women with ECC of CIN 2 or CIN 3, cervical biopsy of CIN 3, or colposcopic impression of CIN 2+ require LEEP or cone before simple hysterectomy.
