Comparison of expectant vs. excisional/ablative management for CIN2 in
the era of HPV testing.
Abstract
Objective: To investigate conservative and excisional/ablative treatment
outcomes for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) following
introduction of virological test of cure. Design: Retrospective study of
prospectively collected data. Setting: Teaching hospital colposcopy
unit. Population: 331 sequential biopsy-proven CIN2 cases. Methods: CIN2
cases diagnosed 01/07/2014-31/12/2017 were followed-up until colposcopy
discharge and then using the national cervical cytology database.
Outcomes were defined: Cytological/histological regression was absence
of high-grade CIN on biopsy and/or high-grade dysplasia; Virological
regression was cytological/histological regression and negative human
papillomavirus testing; Persistence was biopsy-proven CIN2 and/or
moderate dyskaryosis; Progression was biopsy-proven CIN3+ and/or severe
dyskaryosis. Main outcome measures: Regression, persistence, progression
rates; median regression/progression times; referral to discharge
interval; subsequent CIN. Results: Median follow-up was 22.6 months
(range: 1.9-65.1). 175 (52.9%) patients were initially managed
conservatively. 77.3%(133/172) regressed, 13.4%(23/172) persisted and
9.3%(16/172) progressed to CIN3+. 97(56.4%) patients achieved
virological regression. Median regression and progression times were 6.1
(range 2.4-30.4) months and 7.6 (range 3.8-43.3) months, respectively.
156 (47.1%) patients underwent initial excision/ablation, with a
89.4%(110/123) virological cure rate. Patients managed conservatively
vs. planned excision spent a median of 16.4 and 11.7 months
respectively, within colposcopy follow-up. 7 (4.0%) and 3 (1.9%)
patients developed further CIN in the conservative and treatment groups
respectively, during median 17.2 months post-discharge. Conclusions:
Conservative management is a reasonable and effective management
strategy in appropriately-selected women with CIN2. The above data
provide useful information for clinicians and patients deciding
management options. Funding: none Keywords: CIN2; conservative;
management; expectant; regression; progression; persistence; excision;
HPV; virological