Postpartum regression rates of antepartum cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II and III lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To study the histologic regression and progression rates of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II and III after delivery and the effect the route of delivery has on the regression rates of CIN.

METHODS

Pregnant patients with satisfactory colposcopic examinations and biopsy-proven CIN II and III were identified. Delivery information and postpartum biopsy results were obtained by chart review.

RESULTS

Two hundred seventy-nine patients had antepartum biopsies of CIN II or CIN III. Of these, 126 women were excluded for the following reasons: lost to follow-up (75), human immunodeficiency virus positive (two), cesarean hysterectomy (four), and inadequate postpartum follow-up (45). This yielded a study group of 153 patients consisting of 82 with CIN II and 71 with CIN III. The regression rates were 68% and 70% among CIN II and CIN III patients (P = .78), respectively. Seven percent of patients with CIN II progressed to CIN III on postpartum evaluation. Twenty-five percent of those patients with CIN II and 30% of those with CIN III remained the same postpartum. No CIN lesions progressed to invasive carcinoma. There were no differences in regression rates or progression rates among the women who had vaginal deliveries (130), women who labored and then underwent cesarean (17), or women who proceeded to a cesarean without laboring (six).

CONCLUSION

We found similar high postpartum regression rates despite the route of delivery. We recommend conservative antepartum management with postpartum colposcopic evaluation regardless of route of delivery because we are unable to predict which of these lesions are more likely to regress.