[The effectiveness of conservative treatment of cervical lesions using the LLETZ and CO2 laser]

Abstract

Development made on the carcinogenesis process of the cervical lesions and increased detection of the early precancerous lesions enable discontinuance of radical treatments for non-radical techniques which it is of vital importance to young women of the child-bearing capacity. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the non-radical treatment of the cervical lesions using LLETZ procedure (Large Loop Excision of Transition Zone) and laser CO2 vaporisation. 2046 women aged 18-46 who were diagnosed for cervical lesions were treated in the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical School of Bialystok in the years 1994-97. 216 of which were histologically confirmed for CIN I-III diagnosis. The choice between LLETZ or laser CO2 was made based on a pre-treatment examination (cytology, colposcopy, microbiology test and punch biopsy). The final results were evaluated from 6 months to 4 years after the treatment. The effectiveness of CO2 laser was 94.6% and was similar to LLETZ--96.4%. In spite of almost complete agreement in both procedures, the LLETZ seems to be more preferred because of the possibility of histological post-treatment verification.