Negative loop electrosurgical cone biopsy finding following a biopsy diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: frequency and clinical significance.

CONTEXT

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a therapeutic option following biopsy diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Most LEEPs will confirm the HSIL biopsy diagnosis but a number of them will not. Such negative findings suggest the possibility of an incorrect biopsy diagnosis, removal of the lesion by biopsy, or insufficient LEEP sampling.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of negative LEEP findings following HSIL biopsies and better understand the clinical significance of negative LEEP findings.

DESIGN

The Department of Pathology's records were searched for all patients undergoing LEEP excision who had prior cervical biopsies and subsequent clinical follow-up.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-eight women were found who had index biopsies, subsequent LEEPs, and clinical follow-up averaging 25.8 months. Three hundred six women had HSIL on biopsy with 223 (73%) showing HSIL on LEEP. Seventy-three (24%) LEEPs in women with HSIL index biopsy results yielded negative findings or disclosed low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). Twenty-nine of 223 patients (13%) with an HSIL result both on biopsies and LEEPs had HSIL on biopsy and/or excisional clinical follow-up. Seven of 73 patients (10%) with positive (HSIL) biopsy results but negative LEEP findings or LSIL had HSIL on biopsy and/or excisional follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-four percent of patients with HSIL on biopsy had negative findings or LSIL on LEEP. There is no statistical difference in development of HSIL after LEEP for those with positive biopsy and positive LEEP results (13%) versus positive biopsy and negative LEEP results (10%). The occurrence of a negative LEEP finding following a positive biopsy finding was frequent (24%) and does not portend a different clinical follow-up from a positive biopsy and positive LEEP result.