Abstract
Objective
To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of focused ultrasound (FU) in the treatment of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and follow up on pregnancy outcomes in patients.
Methods
This retrospective study recruited 57 patients aged 20–40 years with cervical HSIL combined with HR-HPV infection who received FU treatment between September 2019 and April 2022. Clinical data of the patients were obtained from hospital records. HSIL cure rate and cumulative HR-HPV clearance rate were assessed after treatment. Patients were followed up on fertility and pregnancy outcomes after treatment by telephone interviews until April 1, 2023.
Results
During a 6-month follow-up, the HSIL cure rate was 73.7%, and a statistical difference between CIN2 and CIN3 (75.6% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.713) was not present. HSIL -recurrence was not observed during the follow-up period, and the median follow-up duration was 12 months. The cumulative HR-HPV clearance rates at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups were 56.1% and 75.4%, respectively. The median clearance time of HR-HPV was 6 (95% confidence interval, 5.46–6.54) months. The clearance rate was higher in HPV16/18 than in non-HPV16/18 (86.7% vs. 62.9%, p = 0.038). After treatment, the successful pregnancy rate in patients with fertility intentions and spontaneous abortion rate were 73.9% and 5.9%, respectively. Preterm birth, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or low-birth-weight infants were not observed.
Conclusion
FU treatment can regress HSIL and accelerate HR-HPV clearance in young women of childbearing age with cervical HSIL associated with HR-HPV infection, and has no significant adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Date availability statement
Relevant data about this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.