Comparison of success rate and complications of contour-loop excision of the transformation zone (C-LETZ) with cold knife conization (CKC) in high grade lesion (HGL) from colposcopic impression.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the complications and success rate of Contour-Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (C-LETZ) with Cold Knife Conization (CKC) in High Grade Lesion (HGL).

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Between April 1st, 2007 and November 30th, 2007, forty-five C-LETZs were performed in patients who had Pap smear result of High grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL) or Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) combined with colposcopic impression of satisfactory HGL by using the "See and Treat" approach. Success rate, tissue size, operating time, blood loss, intra-operative, and post-operative complications (2 weeks) were recorded to compare with the retrospective results from therapeutic CKC.

RESULTS

Forty-five cases of C-LETZ and 50 cases of CKC were compared. Using the "See and Treat" approach, the over-treatment rate was 6.7% (3/45). The success rate and tissue size were not different between both groups. The operating time, blood loss, and post-operative infection were significantly less in the C-LETZ group.

CONCLUSION

The authors compared CKC with C-LETZ, which is a new method for the management ofHGL of the cervix and found C-LETZ to be a favorable method with comparable efficacy but with significantly less morbidity, and suitable as a "See and Treat" method in a hospital outpatient clinic.