Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with electrocautery: a report of 776 cases.

From 1973 to 1984, 776 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were treated with outpatient electrocautery (hot cautery) without anesthesia. Of these, 726 (94%) were available for follow-up in 3 to 6 months. An initial cure rate with one treatment of 89% to 90% was achieved. Cure rates were similar for all degrees of dysplasia, including carcinoma in situ. There were no complications. All patients with failure of the initial treatment who returned for further outpatient management were eventually cured with use of electrocautery. Long-term follow-up rates ranged from 75% at 1 year to 46% at 5 years. There were few late recurrences, most of which were treated again (successfully) with electrocautery. Electrocautery produces cure rates similar to those for other forms of conservative management and may be the most cost-effective method of management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.