Regeneration of cervical epithelium after laser vaporization.

The process of reepithelialization after laser vaporization of normal cervical squamous epithelium was examined using light and electron microscopy. Tissue specimens were obtained from seven patients at time intervals ranging from seven to 16 days after laser vaporization. Immature squamous epithelium appeared at the edge of the laser crater between seven and 14 days, and by 14 to 16 days, the immature epithelium covered the entire crater area. The observations made in this study concur with those of other studies of the healing process of squamous epithelium, whereby immature cells from the surrounding undamaged epithelium migrate into the damaged area, eventually differentiating into a full thickness of epithelium.