LOOP DIATHERMY EXCISION OF THE CERVICAL TRANSFORMATION ZONE IN PATIENTS WITH ABNORMAL CERVICAL SMEARS

Objective: To determine the efficacy and morbidity of fine loop diathermy excision of the cervical transformation zone as applied to the management of outpatients with abnormal cervical smears. Design: Prospective programme trial with six month follow up. Setting: Two hospital based colposcopy clinics. Patients: 616 Patients aged 16-60 with abnormal cervical smears. Interventions: After colposcopic and cytological assessment excision of the cervical transformation zone by fine loop diathermy under local anaesthesia in the outpatient department. Main outcome measures: Time to complete the treatment, immediate morbidity in terms of discomfort and bleeding, and cytological and colposcopic findings at six months. Results: Treatment was completed in a mean of 3.47 minutes (SD 1.99). Immediate morbidity was minimal, and histological specimens were adequate in over 90% of cases. Almost two thirds of patients were treated at their first visit to the clinic. 58 Patients (9.4%) failed to attend for follow up at six months and one had had a hysterectomy. Of the 557 patients who attended for colposcopic and cytological follow up at six months, 506 (91%) were normal cytologically and 19 (3.4%) had histologically confirmed persistence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The overall confirmed failure rate of the technique was 4.4%. Conclusion: Loop diathermy excision is an effective treatment with low morbidity and is an appropriate modality for patients with abnormal cervical smears.