Cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspiration for the treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine whether cavitational ultrasonic surgical aspiration (CUSA) is effective and safe for treating vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 46 patients who were treated with CUSA for VAIN in a single gynecologic oncology practice between 1981 and 1999.

RESULTS

At initial presentation, 39% of treated patients had grade I VAIN, 20% had grade II, and 41% had grade III. The mean duration of follow-up from initial CUSA treatment was 21 months. Twenty-nine patients (63%) were initially treated with CUSA, 7 patients (15%) with laser vaporization, 7 patients (15%) with surveillance by Papanicolaou smear, 1 patient (2%) with partial vaginectomy, 1 patient (2%) with 5-fluorouracil, and 1 patient (2%) with loop excision. Patients initially treated with CUSA had a higher percentage of grade III VAIN at diagnosis (48%) than did patients initially treated with other methods (29%). A significantly greater proportion of patients initially treated with CUSA had no recurrence of VAIN (66%) compared with patients initially treated with other methods (0%) (P < 0.0001). A significantly greater proportion of patients who were treated for recurrent disease with CUSA had no further recurrence (52%) compared with patients treated for recurrent disease with other methods (9%) (P < 0.001). No patient treated with CUSA reported adverse effects; 7 patients treated with other methods reported dysuria, burning, and pain.

CONCLUSION

These initial data suggest that CUSA is a safe and effective method for treating VAIN and may be an appropriate treatment for many patients.