Four categories of LEEP for CIN of various areas: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and safety of loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEP) with four different excisions in treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) of different areas.

Methods: Four hundred and sixty-six cases of CIN were treated with different types of LEEP. Following visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol’s iodine, LEEP were performed to excise the transformation zone to a 20–25 mm depth with a 2–3 mm margin. Four categories of procedures are described below: (i) LEEP-A for lesion ≥2/3 of cervical area: conization of ≥2/3 of cervical tissue. (ii) LEEP-B for ≥1/3 but <2/3: conization of 1/3 to <2/3. (iii) LEEP-C for <1/3: conization of <1/3. (iv) LEEP-D: endocervical canal resection.

Results: The cases included 108 of CIN I, 232 of CIN II, and 106 of CIN III (not including carcinoma in situ) patients. No positive margin was found in any specimens. The cure rates for LEEP-A, B, C, and D were 99.1%, 98.5%, 100.0%, and 93.2%, respectively (p > .05). The pregnancy rate at two years after LEEP was significantly higher in groups C and D compared to group A (p < .05).

Conclusions: Four categories of LEEP are highly effective in the treatment of CIN when appropriately applied. However, large loop excision may lead to adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnancy.

Keywords:

• Loop electrosurgical excision procedures
• intraepithelial neoplasia
• cervical function
• effectiveness

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.