Relationship between various histological status of margins of LEEP and residual HSIL or worse at hysterectomy following conization

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between various loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) margin status and residual high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) or worse at hysterectomy following conization. Methods: The relevant clinicopathological data were collected in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University from Jan. 2014 to Dec. 2015, including 947 cases who underwent hysterectomy within 6 months of LEEP. The residual HSIL or worse at hysterectomy were analyzed among the groups. (1) Clear margins, involved margins, and without 1 mm negative margins. (2) Only one positive margin, two positive margins and three positive margins. (3) A positive margin of internal ostium of cervix, of external ostium of cervix and of the basement. Results: (1) The histological evaluation of the uterine specimens showed residual HSIL or worse in 234 cases (24.7%, 234/947). The proportion of residual lesions was 7.3% (21/286) in population with clear margins, 33.2% (211/635) with involved margins, 7.7% (2/26) without 1 mm negative margins, respectively. The positive margins group had significant difference at the aspect of residual rate in contrast to the negative margins group and the without 1 mm negative margins group (P<0.01). Further studies conclusively showed that the proportion of residual lesions was very similar between the negative margins group and the without 1 mm negative margins group (P>0.05). (2) The involved margins were interpretable in 621 cases. This was detected in 25.3% (111/438) patients with only one positive margin, 47.4% (74/156) with two positive margins and 77.8% (21/27) among three positive margins, respectively (P<0.01). (3) Furthermore, there were 418 cases only one positive margin was definite, and the proportion of residual lesions was 31.0% (62/200) in population with a positive margin of internal ostium of cervix, 18.2% (31/170) of external ostium of cervix and 33.3% (16/48) of the basement. The residual rates were higher in the endocervical and basal margin groups than that in the ectocervical margin group, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: The risk of residual HSIL or worse is significantly greater with involved margins at hysterectomy following LEEP. Both the positive endocervical and basal margin are excellent predictors of residual diseases, while the without 1 mm negative margin may be not. Clinicians should avoid treating it as positive margin and prevent overtreatment.