Carbon dioxide laser management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

In this report we describe the use of the carbon dioxide laser for the outpatient management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). A comparison of treatment effectiveness for different grades of CIN is also included. Two hundred fifty-six cases were evaluated by colposcopy, cytology, and histopathology, treated by at least 5 to 6 mm of laser vaporization, and followed up for an average of 10.7 months. Follow-up examinations included cytology, colposcopy, and directed biopsy if a suspicious lesion was discovered. During the follow-up, 18 cases of persistent CIN were identified (7.0%). Most of these were successfully managed with repeat laser treatment. Overall success of laser surgery for CIN, one or two applications, was 97.6%. Few complications were encountered. Laser surgery appears to offer acceptable treatment effectiveness, early identification of persistent disease, and easy retreatment when required.