Inflammatory cell infiltrate in the cervix as a predictor of residual cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after conization.

From January 1985 to January 1991, 112 patients underwent conization of the cervix for dysplasia. Twenty-one had incomplete resection, with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) extending to the endocervical margins of resection. Only 10 had persistent CIN in follow-up. A decrease in the inflammatory cell infiltrate in the cervical stroma of the conization specimen was associated with persistent disease. A simple technique for quantitating this inflammatory cell infiltrate was used. Smoking was associated with a suppression of this local immune response in the cervix.