Comparison of cure rates in women treated with cold-coagulation versus LLETZ cervical treatment for CIN2-3 on pretreatment cervical punch biopsies: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To compare the cure rates between women who were treated with cold-coagulation versus large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or 3 (CIN3) on pretreatment cervical punch biopsies.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of women having had a single cervical treatment for CIN2 or CIN3 on pretreatment cervical punch biopsies between 2010 and 2011. The cure rates were defined as the absence of any dyskaryosis (mild/moderate/severe) on cytology tests during follow-up and were determined at 6 and 12 months after treatment.

RESULTS: We identified 411 women having had cervical treatment with 178 cases of cold-coagulation and 233 cases of LLETZ. The cure rates at 6 months following cold-coagulation and LLETZ treatment were 91.6 versus 97.1% (p = 0.02), whereas at 12 months, they were 96.5 versus 97.3% (p = 0.76). Multivariable analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, there was a fourfold higher cure rate with LLETZ in comparison with cold-coagulation at 6 months after treatment (adjusted OR 4.50, 95% CI 1.20-16.83; p = 0.026), with this difference disappearing at 12 months. The lower cure rates with cold-coagulation were due to its higher rates of mild dyskaryosis cytology tests at 6 months. The rates of moderate/severe dyskaryosis cytology tests were similar between the two treatment methods at 6 and 12 months.

CONCLUSION: We found that women with CIN2 or CIN3 on pretreatment cervical punch biopsies, after adjusting for multiple confounding factors, had higher cure rates when treated with LLETZ versus cold-coagulation at 6 months, with this difference disappearing at 12 months.