Abstract
Surgical excision will give a very high but not a perfect rate of cure in carcinoma in situ of the cervix. Radical hysterectomy is unnecessary if a proper diagnostic workup has been done and has ruled out invasive disease. Conservative treatment, preserving childbearing function, may be indicated in some young patients, but total hysterectomy should be done if the patient's family is complete. The Papanicolaou smear is an invaluable follow-up tool.