Fernanda Villar Fonseca

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Analyzing the Disease Present Exclusively in the Endocervical Canal

Abstract Objective To evaluate the role of cervical cytology (Pap smear) in the diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or greater (CIN2 + ), presented exclusively in the endocervical canal, the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of this lesion, the necessary length of canal to be removed to treat, and the rate of invasive lesion hidden in the endocervical canal. Methods Cross-sectional study, by database analysis, of patients with abnormal cytology (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL]), without visible colposcopy lesion, submitted to loop electrosurgical procedure (LEEP) to evaluate the association of cytology results with the histological product of the conization, to identify the epidemiological characteristics of endocervical lesion and clinical evolution, using a p-value < 0.05 and 95% CI. Results In 444 cases, the Pap smear sensitivity for CIN2+ diagnosis was 75% (95% CI: 69.8–79.7), specificity was 40% (95% CI: 30.2–49.5), and the prevalence rate of histological lesion was 73% (95% CI: 70.1–78.7). There was a higher prevalence of CIN2+ in women over 42 years old and invasive cancer in those over 56 years old (p < 0.001), and it was necessary to remove 2.6 cm in length of the canal to reduce the chance of recurrence (p < 0.006). The rate of invasive cancer was 2.7%. Conclusion Cytology was related to a high prevalence to histological lesion (73%) in the diagnosis of CIN2+ in the endocervical disease; older patients presented a higher relationship with histological lesions in the canal disease, and it was necessary to remove an average of 2.6 cm in length of the endocervical canal to avoid the persistence and progression of CIN. The rate of occult neoplasia in the endocervical canal was 2.7%.

Recurrence in Cervical High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion: The Role of the Excised Endocervical Canal Length—Analysis of 2,427 Patients

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the excised canal length on relapse rates of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) treated by loop electrosurgical excision procedure and to find a cut-off point, above which lower recurrence rates could be observed, with low probability of compromising future obstetric outcome, and the relationship with other individual factors related to HSIL recurrence. Method This was a retrospective cohort study of 2,427 women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia CIN2+ who underwent cervical conization using the high-frequency loop electrosurgical excision procedure surgery technique, to analyze the role of endocervical canal length associated with individual factors in the recurrent disease after CIN2+ treatment and determine a cut-off point for the excised canal length needed to decrease the risk of disease relapse. Results In 2,427 cases, the relapse rate of HSIL treated was 12%. Compromised margins of conization, HIV+, and endocervical canal length were related directly to relapses (p < .001). The cut-off point, by receiver operating characteristic curve, to calculate the endocervical canal length related to relapses was 1.25 cm of canal excised. Canal length of less than 1.25 cm increased the recurrence rate 2.5 times. Compromised margins and HIV+ increased recurrence rates by more than 5 times. Conclusion Cervical HSIL recurrence was directly related to the endocervical canal length: excised canal length of 1.25 cm or more decreases recurrence rate; HIV and compromised margins increase the chance of recurrence by more than 5 times.

The role of HIV as an independent risk factor to cervical HSIL recurrence

To evaluate the role of being human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive for predicting the risk of recurrence in women with a cervical high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) diagnosis. Retrospective observational case-control study, comprising HIV positive (case) and HIV negative (control) women in a 1:4 ratio. Women assisted by the Erasto Gaertner Hospital, between 2009-2018, with cervical HSIL diagnosis, submitted to treatment by Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and with a minimum follow-up of 18 months, were included. The immunological status, number and time to recurrence were analyzed, with p<0.05 considered significant. In a second analysis, only patients with free margins were evaluated. The sample consisted of 320 women (64 cases and 256 controls). Presence of HIV, CD4 levels <200 and detectable viral load (CV) were associated with high risk of recurrence, with odds ratio (OR) of 5.4 (p<0.001/95CI:2.8-10); 3.6 (p<0.001 /IC95:0.6-21.1) and 1.8 (p=0.039 /IC95:0.3-9.3), respectively. In the sample with free margins (n=271), this risk was also higher among seropositive patients, with OR 4.18 (p=0.001/95CI:1.8-9.2). HIV is an independent risk factor for cervical HSIL recurrence and reduced disease-free survival time. Glandular involvement, compromised margins, undetectable CV and CD4<200 also increase the risk of relapse.