A simple histo-morphometric study of cone biopsies following failure of laser ablation therapy for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia

Abstract

SummaryCone biopsies from 22 patients previously treated by laser ablation therapy for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (21 cases) or human papillomavirus effect alone (1 case) were examined histologically and by simple morphometric means.Of the 19 patients with ‘recurrent” cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, all but two showed involvement of the new' squamo-columnar junction. No consistent stromal abnormalities were seen and healing appeared complete The average depth of crypts at the squamo-columnar junction was greater in laser treated patients than in controls but less than the average depth of the crypts in the canal of laser treated and control groups.A correlation was seen between mean maximum crypt depths at the squamo-columnar junction and in the canal in the laser treated patients. This was not seen in the controls. Taken in conjunction with the increase in depth at the squamo-columnar junction in the laser treated compared to the control patients this suggests that the effect of laser ablati...