[Cervical intraepithelial neoplasms. Persistency and recurrence after laser surgery].

Between 1983 and 1988, 402 women, with ages ranging from 18 to 73 years were treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia using the CO2-laser. 89 patients underwent vaporization and 313 conization. Preoperative biopsy examination showed CIN III in 214 patients. Five cases of invasive cancer were diagnosed, either preoperatively (two cases), after conization (two cases) or on both occasions (one case). At the first postoperative examination residual disease was found in 21 patients of the vaporization group (23.6%) and in 13 patients of the conization group (4.3%). Later examinations (after 5-70 months) revealed recurrence in 10 patients in the vaporization group (11%) and in 13 patients in the conization group (4.3%). Median time for recurrence was 11 months. 30 patients were treated twice or more. No case of invasive cancer was diagnosed after treatment.