Endocervical Glandular Involvement Research Articles

Outcome after loop electrosurgical excision procedure for cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

ObjectiveThe dilemma in treating cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) is how to achieve complete excision to minimize the risk of cervical cancer while sparing the anatomy of the cervix and its ability to function during pregnancy. The optimal management for positive margins after excisional treatment is still controversial. This study was conducted to determine the clinical and histologic predictors of residual/recurrent HSIL and assess the outcome of women with positive margin. Materials and methodsThis retrospective cohort study included 386 women who had excisional treatment for HSIL during 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2015 in a university-affiliated hospital. ResultsOverall, 212 (54.9%) women had negative margins and 155 (40.2%) had positive margins. The cumulative rate of residual/recurrent HSIL at 2 and 5 years was 15.7% and 16.8% respectively in positive margins and 1.8% and 5.0% respectively in negative margins (p < 0.001). Of women who had residual/recurrent HSIL, significantly more women had positive margins compared to negative margins (74.1% vs 25.9%, p = 0.001). Positive margin was significantly associated with higher rate of subsequent abnormal cervical smear (48.2% vs 28.9%, p < 0.001), requiring further colposcopy (32.1% vs 14.4%, p < 0.001) and further treatment for SIL (7.5% vs 4.8%, p < 0.001) compared to negative margin. ConclusionMost women (85%) with positive margin went without residual/recurrent HSIL, of which the option of close surveillance with cytology is reasonable. Repeat excision may be considered in selected women with positive margin, endocervical glandular involvement and those who are older or unable to comply with follow-up.

Risk factors for pathological upgrading in perimenopausal women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 following conization.

Postmenopausal women have a high risk for pathological upgrading in conization specimens due to pathological changes of the cervix. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for pathological upgrading in conization specimens in Chinese women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3) ≥ 50 years of age. From January 2015 to December 2019, 443 CIN2/3 patients ≥ 50 years of age were retrospectively included and divided into the upgrade group (n = 47) and the non-upgrade group (n = 396) according to the presence or absence of pathological upgrading in the conization specimens. Multivariate logistic regression model was performed to analyze risk factors associated with pathological upgrading. The upgrade group was more likely to have gravidity < 2 times, postmenopausal period ≥ 5 years, higher incidences of endocervical glandular involvement (EGI) and human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 infection, as well as a lower incidence of cervical contactive bleeding and fewer cases undergoing endocervical curettage (all P < .05) than the non-upgrade group. Multivariate model showed that factors associated with pathological upgrading were postmenopausal period ≥ 5 years (OR = 2.55), EGI (OR = 17.71), endocervical curettage (OR = 0.33), and HPV type 16/18 (OR = 3.41) (all P < .05). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under curve of 0.782 (P < .001). Pathological upgrading in conization specimens is not uncommon in Chinese CIN2/3 patients ≥ 50 years of age. For those with high-risk factors of pathological upgrading (postmenopausal period ≥ 5 years, EGI, and HPV 16/18 infection), the follow-up interval can be appropriately shortened, and active intervention could be considered.

Is Endocervical Glandular Involvement Related to The Depth of Cone Biopsy?

Introduction. This study aimed to determine whether endocervical glandular involvement by squamous intraepithelial lesion would differ with respect to the depth of the excised specimen and analyze the related factors that may define endocervical glandular involvement among cases treated with cone biopsy. Methods. Between April 2016 and December 2018, women who underwent colposcopy and excisional procedures in the department of gynecologic oncology were retrospectively investigated. Patients with multiple specimens, or whose specimen depths were not measured, and a negative/unknown HPV status were excluded from the study. Also, patients with no dysplasia or microinvasive/invasive cancer in the final pathology report and those who had not undergone endocervical curettage during colposcopy were excluded. HPV genotypes, degree of dysplasia, surgical margin status, and specimen depth were documented from medical records. Further, the association of these factors with endocervical glandular involvement was evaluated. Results: A total of 321 patients who fulfilled the criteria were included in the study, with a mean age of 41.9 years. In total, 101 patients (31.5%) had endocervical glandular involvement. The mean excised specimen depth was 17.04 mm; 17.9 and 16.7 mm for the positive and negative glandular involvement groups, respectively (p = .13). The mean ages were 42.7 and 41.6 years for these groups, respectively (p = .32). There was no association between the HPV genotypes and glandular involvement. Conclusions: Endocervical glandular involvement is not associated with the depth of the excised specimen. A deeper cone biopsy may not necessarily enable a more effective treatment of the disease.

Clinical Outcomes Associated with Endocervical Glandular Involvement in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia III.

This study aimed to determine whether endocervical glandular involvement (GI) affects the clinical prognosis of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III who underwent the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). This retrospective study included 250 patients who underwent LEEP for the treatment of CIN III between August 2005 and May 2020. The medical records of 234 patients were analyzed; 137 (58.5%) patients were GI negative, and 97 (41.5%) were GI positive. Margin involvement of the LEEP specimen was found in 59 (45.4%) patients in the GI-negative group and 54 (58.7%) patients in the GI-positive group (p = 0.051). The additional surgical procedures (repeat conization or hysterectomy) were significantly more performed in GI-positive patients than in GI-negative patients (40.9% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.004). When comparing the LEEP specimens of GI-1 (GI-positive confirmed via cervical biopsy before conization) and GI-2 (GI-positive confirmed via conization), we found that the mean depth was significantly greater in the GI-1 group (10.9 mm) than in the GI-2 group (7.6 mm) (p = 0.024). Surgical margin involvement was more frequently observed in the GI-2 group than in the GI-1 group (p = 0.030). There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates of CIN between the GI-negative and GI-positive groups (p = 0.641). In conclusion, despite no significant differences in residual disease and CIN recurrence between the GI-negative and GI-positive groups, additional surgical treatments were more frequently performed in GI-positive patients. Repeat surgery based on GI positivity should be carefully considered to avoid overtreatment and surgical complications.

Necessity for subsequent surgery in women of child-bearing age with positive margins after conization

Background20–25% of women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (HSIL) have residual lesions after conization. The state of the margin is generally considered to be a risk factor for recurrence or persistent lesions. Predictors of positive margins and residual lesions need to be identified. A design for postoperative management and avoidance of overtreatment needs to be provided, especially for women of child-bearing age.MethodsThis study was a retrospective analysis of 1309 women of child-bearing age with HSIL, who underwent cold knife conization (CKC). Age, gravidity, parity, human papillomavirus (HPV) species, cytology, transformation zone type, results of endocervical curettage (ECC), quadrant involvement, glandular involvement, and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) grade were analyzed. Among those with positive margins, 245 patients underwent secondary surgery within three months, including CKC, a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, and total hysterectomy. Risk factors for positive margins and residual lesions were assessed.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age, gravidity, parity, glandular involvement, and CIN grade between the two groups (P > 0.3). There was a significant difference in HPV species, cytology, ECC results, and quadrant involvement (P < 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed a major cytology abnormality, high-risk HPV infection, type III transformation zone, positive ECC result, and multiple quadrant involvement were independent risk factors for positive margins and residual lesions (P < 0.02). Age > 35 years was also a risk factor for residual lesions (P < 0.03).ConclusionHigh-risk women should be treated appropriately considering fertility. Patients with positive margins should be managed uniquely. Surgery for women without fertility may be appropriate. Close follow-up is necessary for women who have fertility requirements or are unwilling to undergo subsequent surgery if they have no risk factors, especially women < 35 years.

The relationship of human papillomavirus infection with endocervical glandular involvement on cone specimens in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

ObjectiveThe aim of study was to evaluate the association of endocervical gland involvement (EGI) on histological samples with high risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and with the persistence/recurrence rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) after treatment. MethodsA total of 1301 subjects who had conization procedures after cervical punch biopsies (533 persistent CIN1, 768 CIN2+ including 20 microinvasive cervical cancer) were enrolled in the study. HPV genotypes were identified using the INNO-LiPA HPV genotyping assay on cervical scraping. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of EGI on the persistence/recurrence rate of CIN after treatment. ResultsThe rate of EGI on final histology was 46.3% (602/1301). HPV 16 was the only HR-HPV significantly associated with increasing rates of EGI (231/602 as compared to 211/699, p = 0.002). EGI was also associated with an excess of multiple HR-HPV infections (237/602 as compared with 225/699, p = 0.006). After correction for confounders, the odds ratio of EGI among women infected by HPV 16 was 1.41 (95% CI = 1.12–178). CIN2+ lesions were diagnosed in 40.5% (283/699) of EGI negative subjects and 86.7% (522/602, p < 0.001 compared to negative subjects) of EGI positive subjects.After a median of 25 months of follow-up (IQR = 15–47) of 1090 treated women, the persistence of HPV 16 during follow-up was 38.1% (93/217, p = 0.03 compared to EGI negative) among EGI positive and 32% (58/181) among controls. After corrections for potential confounders, the odds ratio of CIN2+ persistence and or recurrence was higher among EGI positive (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.16–4.77) than negative controls. ConclusionEGI on histological samples is associated with increased rates of HPV 16, multiple high risk-HPV infections and CIN2+ lesions. EGI positive subjects also had an increased CIN recurrence/persistence after treatment compared to controls.

Endocervical glandular involvement is associated with an increased detection rate of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions on the Papanicolaou test

Although The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytopathology does not mandate reporting of endocervical glandular involvement (EGI) in Papanicolaou test specimens with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), several studies have suggested that EGI diagnosed on surgical specimens is associated with higher rates of residual or recurrent dysplasia. When suspected, EGI is reported for Papanicolaou test specimens at our institution, but the performance of this diagnosis has not been assessed. The archives were queried for Papanicolaou test specimens with a diagnosis of HSIL-EGI (2006-2017). All follow-up surgical pathology specimens within a year of the Papanicolaou test diagnosis were evaluated for cytologic-histologic correlation. This same query was repeated for all surgical pathology specimens with a diagnosis of HSIL-EGI. All preceding Papanicolaou test diagnoses within a year were assessed for cytologic-histologic correlation. Twenty Papanicolaou test specimen glass slides were reviewed by 6 observers to assess for interobserver variability. Patients with HSIL-EGI on surgical specimens were more likely to have a preceding Papanicolaou diagnosis of HSIL and atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) (32.3% versus 25.5%, P = 0.03, and 16.7% versus 11.8%, P = 0.04, respectively). Patients with an HSIL-EGI diagnosis on a Papanicolaou test were significantly more likely to have HSIL-EGI detected on a follow-up histology (41.6% versus 24.0%, P < 0.001). Interobserver concordance was poor for the assignment of EGI in Papanicolaou test specimens. Overall, the diagnosis of HSIL-EGI on Papanicolaou test specimens is complicated by poor sensitivity and interobserver concordance.

The effects of different instruments and suture methods of conization for cervical lesions

This study is to compare the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing cold knife conization (CKC) versus electrosurgical conization (ESC). Among 10,086 patients in a single center admitted between January 2000 and January 2019, CKS or ESC was used for grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3) or more severe lesions. Modified Sturmdorf or Figure-of-eight sutures were applied after conization. A regression model was used to determine the risk factors for margin involvement and short-term post-operative complications. In total, 7275 (72.1%) and 2811 (27.9%) patients underwent CKC and ESC, respectively. Women who underwent ESC were older and had a higher risk of margin involvement and endocervical glandular involvement than those who underwent CKC in univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.032, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.025–1.038) and glandular involvement (OR 2.196, 95% CI 1.915–2.517) were the independent risk factors associated with margin involvement, but the incision methods used caused no significant difference. Modified Sturmdorf sutures and Figure-of-eight sutures were applied in 3520 (34.9%) and 6566 (65.1%) patients, respectively. The modified Sturmdorf sutures was the only risk factor associated with wound hemorrhage (OR 1.852, 95% CI 1.111–3.085) after adjusted with other epidemiological and surgical factors. Various incision or suture methods had similar risk of cervical stenosis. Therefore, ESC is an acceptable alternative to CKC for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical lesions regarding the pathologic accuracy and integrity, and short-term safety. Modified Sturmdorf sutures increased the risk of wound hemorrhage compared with Figure-of-eight sutures.

Effect of endocervical glandular involvement on residual and recurrent disease in patients with high grade cervical dysplasia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of endocervical glandular involvement on residual and recurrent disease in high-grade cervical dysplasia.Material and Methods: Patients underwent Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) or Cold Knife Conization (CKC) between January 2015 and June 2016 were identified. Patients that had low grade lesions in conization specimens were excluded. The data were collected for age, menopausal status, cytology, colposcopic findings, conization procedure, HPV positivity and subtype, diameters of specimen, number of pieces, pathologic data including status of margins, endocervical glandular involvement (EGI) and recurrence. Prognostic effect of EGI on residual and recurrent disease were evaluatedResults: Of 282 patients, 204 were eligible. Median age was 41 years in both groups. Age, menopausal status, cytology, diameters of specimen, number of pieces, colposcopy findings and conization procedure did not differ between groups.. Surgical margin positivity was higher in EGI positive group. HPV type 16 positivity was significantly higher in EGI positive patients. EGI was found to be the only prognostic factor for residual disease and was not a prognostic factor for recurrent disease.Conclusion: Our findings showed that EGI appears as a poor prognostic factor for residual disease but not for recurrence in patients with high-grade cervical dysplasia.

Endocervical Glandular Involvement is Associated with Higher Rates of HSIL and ASC-H Diagnoses on Preceding Pap Test

Endocervical Glandular Involvement is Associated with Higher Rates of HSIL and ASC-H Diagnoses on Preceding Pap Test

Endocervical glandular involvement, multicentricity, and extent of the disease are features of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

This study aimed to evaluate the rate of endocervical glandular involvement, positive surgical margins, multicentricity, and disease extent between low-grade and high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Pathology medical records of patients who underwent LEEP were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with negative LEEP results were excluded. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure reports of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 2, and 3 were compared. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with CIN 1 (n=24), CIN 2 (n=27), and CIN 3 (n=64) when age and surgical margin positivity were considered. Endocervical glandular involvement, multicentricity, and disease extent were higher in patients with CIN 3 (P=.001, P=.002, and P=.001, respectively). In conclusion, we recommend that patients with endocervical glandular involvement, lesions involving more than two-thirds of the LEEP specimen, and multicentricity be followed up more closely.

Endocervical glandular involvement, positive endocervical surgical margin and multicentricity are more often associated with high‐grade than low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

The aim of this study was to compare the relative frequencies of endocervical glandular involvement (EGI), multicentricity, positive endocervical surgical margins (ESM) and positive vaginal surgical margins (VSM), and adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix (AIS) between high-grade and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL and LSIL, respectively). We identified 238 patients with squamous intraepithelial lesions/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) who were treated by loop electrocautery excision (LEEP) or conventional cold-knife conization (CKC). A total of 223 (72 [32.3%] LSIL/CIN I; 85 [38.1%] HSIL/CIN II; 66 [29.6%] HSIL/CIN III; and 151 [67.7%], HSIL/CIN II + III) LEEP/CKC slides were histologically reviewed. The frequencies of EGI, positive ESM, and multicentricity were significantly higher in the HSIL/CIN II + III group than in the LSIL/CIN I group (P = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.025, respectively). Eighteen of the 72 (25%) LSIL/CIN I patients, 44 of the 85 (51.8%) HSIL/CIN II patients, and 60 of the 66 (90.9%) HSIL/CIN III patients (P = 0.001) showed EGI. In four of the 72 (5.6%) LSIL/CIN I patients, 18 of the 85 (21.2%) HSIL/CIN II patients, and 42 of the 66 (63.6%) HSIL/CIN III patients (P = 0.001), ESM was positive. Two of the 72 (2.8%) LSIL/CIN I patients, seven of the 85 (8.2%) HSIL/CIN II patients, and 11 of the 66 (16.7%) HSIL/CIN III patients (P = 0.016) were multicentric. The current study showed that EGI, positive ESM and multicentricity were more often associated with HSIL/CIN II + III than with LSIL/CIN I. Moreover, the frequencies of EGI, multicentricity, and positive ESM increased with increasing severity of the cervical lesion. This result may influence the preference for the type of surgical procedure used for patients with cytological diagnosis of HSIL.

Cytohistological correlation of endocervical gland involvement with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

Background:Diagnosis of endocervical glandular involvement by high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL-EGI) on Papanicolaou (Pap) smears can affect the clinical management of patients.Aim:The cytological criteria for the diagnosis of HSIL-EGI are described and the accuracy of this diagnosis was investigated.Materials and Methods:Seventeen patients diagnosed with HSIL-EGI and 40 patients with diagnosis of HSIL on Pap smears with follow-up cone or loop electrocautery excision procedure (LEEP) biopsies were included in the study. The following criteria were evaluated for the cytological diagnosis of HSIL-EGI: atypical cells with definite features of HSIL, three-dimensional atypical squamous cell clusters (TDCs) with attached benign endocervical epithelium, finger-like TDCs covered with intact epithelium on most sides, which represent the finger-like invaginations of the endocervical glandular area involved by HSIL, and the absence of cytological findings of in situ adenocarcinoma of the cervix.Results:On subsequent histopathological evaluation, 16 of 17 (94.1%) patients with a cytological diagnosis of HSIL-EGI and 17 of 40 (42.5%) patients with HSIL exhibited endocervical glandular involvement (P < 0.001, sensitivity: 48.5%, specificity: 95.8%, positive predictive value: 94.1%, negative predictive value: 57.5% and accuracy: 68.4%).Conclusion:Diagnosis of HSIL-EGI may be possible on Pap smears with a high positive predictive value and specificity but low sensitivity, possibly due to cytological sampling limitations. To clarify the results of the present study, more extensive studies with a particular emphasis on the sampling of the endocervical glandular area for cytological evaluation of the cervix are needed.

Synchronous high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and adenocarcinoma in situ of cervix in a young woman presenting with hyperchromatic crowded groups in the cervical cytology specimen: Report of a case

We report a 29-year-old woman who underwent routine gynecologic evaluation at a community clinic and had a cervical sample drawn for liquid-based cytologic evaluation. At cytology, many hyperchromatic crowded groups (HCG) were present, but a consensus could not be established whether the abnormal cells were primarily glandular or squamous with secondary endocervical glandular involvement. An interpretation of atypical endocervical cells, favor neoplastic, was rendered and biopsy advised if clinically appropriate. At biopsy, the cervix contained synchronous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, secondarily involving endocervical glands, and neighboring adenocarcinoma in situ. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 and p16(INK4A) crisply and precisely stained both the lesions, clearly separating them from the adjacent uninvolved mucosa. This case re-emphasizes the challenge associated with accurate evaluation of HCG at cytology, the significance of ancillary testing for surrogate markers of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection, the need for adjunct testing for HPV-DNA in the setting of HCG at cervical cytology, and a recommendation to set up studies to evaluate the role of surrogate markers of HR-HPV infection in cytologic samples with HCG.

Endocervical Glandular Involvement Is Associated with High-grade SIL

Abstract Objective. To examine whether endocervical glandular involvement (EGI) by squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) is associated with the grade of the squamous lesion and to assess the usefulness of such association for diagnostic purposes. Methods. Histologic sections from two hundred successive cases of cervical SIL were reviewed retrospectively from the archives of the Department of Pathology of a tertiary care medical center. Results. Nine of 93 (9.7%) low-grade lesions and 41 of 107 (38.3%) high-grade lesions showed glandular involvement ( P = 0.001, Chi-squared test). The relative risk of having EGI in high-grade lesions as compared to low-grade lesions was 3.95. Conclusion. EGI is seen approximately four times more frequently in high-grade SIL than in low-grade SIL. Therefore, in cases that are difficult to grade, the presence of EGI is in favor of the lesion being a high-grade SIL.

Endocervical glandular involvement is associated with high-grade SIL

Objective. To examine whether endocervical glandular involvement (EGI) by squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) is associated with the grade of the squamous lesion and to assess the usefulness of such association for diagnostic purposes. Methods. Histologic sections from two hundred successive cases of cervical SIL were reviewed retrospectively from the archives of the Department of Pathology of a tertiary care medical center. Results. Nine of 93 (9.7%) low-grade lesions and 41 of 107 (38.3%) high-grade lesions showed glandular involvement ( P = 0.001, Chi-squared test). The relative risk of having EGI in high-grade lesions as compared to low-grade lesions was 3.95. Conclusion. EGI is seen approximately four times more frequently in high-grade SIL than in low-grade SIL. Therefore, in cases that are difficult to grade, the presence of EGI is in favor of the lesion being a high-grade SIL.

Atypical reactive proliferation of endocervix: a common lesion associated with endometrial carcinoma and likely related to prior endometrial sampling

We describe a common, but hitherto not well described, reactive change of the endocervical surface epithelium, commonly seen in association with endometrial carcinoma, and which we term ‘atypical reactive proliferation'. This lesion, especially when florid, has the potential to be misinterpreted as a manifestation of a stage 2A endometrial cancer (endocervical glandular involvement). We examined the cervical sections in 80 consecutive hysterectomy specimens of endometrial cancer. In 22 cases (27.5%), there was cervical involvement by tumour and these cases were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining cases, atypical reactive proliferation involved the endocervical surface in 40 of 58 (69%) cases, although the degree of abnormality varied widely between individual cases. Histological features characteristic of atypical reactive proliferation (not all features were present in each case) included nuclear stratification and multilayering with short micropapillary processes, squamoid change, hobnail cells and mild cytological atypia. Other features present in some cases were surface erosion, clearing of the cytoplasm, fibrin deposition, an inflammatory cell infiltrate and fibrosis of the subepithelial tissue. In 20 control cases, comprising hysterectomy specimens for benign conditions, similar changes were not seen. Vimentin immunohistochemistry was undertaken in eight cases in which atypical reactive proliferation was particularly florid. Five cases were completely negative and three exhibited very focal positivity. Atypical reactive proliferation involving the endocervical surface is commonly seen in association with endometrial cancer and has the potential to be misinterpreted as endocervical involvement by tumour. Although this could represent a reactive change associated with the presence of an endometrial cancer, we feel atypical reactive proliferation is most likely a reactive/reparative response to recent endometrial biopsy or curettage. The vimentin-negative immunophenotype may be of value in cases where the uterine carcinoma is endometrioid in type as these neoplasms are generally vimentin positive.

Loop-cone cerclage in pregnancy: a 5-year review

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of patients undergoing conization utilizing a technique of loop-cone cerclage when a diagnostic cone biopsy was required in pregnancy. Methods All loop conizations between 1997 and 2001 were reviewed; 15 patients were identified who underwent cone- cerclage with 13 medical records completely available for review. Abstracted data included age, parity, pap smears prior to and during pregnancy, and histology obtained during colposcopy. The operative time for the procedure, estimated blood loss, complications, pathology of loop specimen, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. Results Thirteen charts were available for complete review. The mean operating time was 22 min; 11 patients had less than 50 cc blood loss and two patients had a 250 cc blood loss. The median age was 26.5, average parity was 2, and mean gestational age was 24.1 weeks. Six patients had abnormal pap smears prior to pregnancy, one woman had previously undergone colposcopy, and there was no documentation of previous pap smears in six patients. During pregnancy, on pap smear, nine patients had HSIL, three patients had ASCUS/LSIL, and one patient had adenocarcinoma. Thirteen patients underwent colposcopy and biopsy; eight patients had the question of invasive disease, five patients had endocervical glandular involvement with carcinoma in situ, which were the indications for conization. There were no intraoperative or late postoperative complications. All patients delivered at term. Conclusions While the need for conization during pregnancy is rare, there are indications when it is necessary. Loop-cone cerclage is a safe method for performing diagnostic and therapeutic conization during pregnancy.

Significance of the cytologic diagnosis of endocervical glandular involvement in high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

The cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of endocervical gland involvement (EGI) by high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSILs) have been described, and this diagnosis occasionally is made. This study evaluates the accuracy of a cytologic diagnosis compared with that of follow-up cone biopsies. Twenty-eight patients with Papanicolaou (Pap) smear diagnoses of HGSILs with EGI, with follow-up cone biopsies, were identified from New York University computerized files. Results were compared with those of a control group of 28 patients showing cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grades II/III (CIN-II/III), irrespective of previous Pap smear findings. On subsequent cone biopsy samples, 26 of the 28 study cases showed signs of HGSIL. Of these 26 patients, 17 (65%) showed evidence of HGSIL with EGI. Among the 28 control cases, 20 (71.4%) had EGI on the cone biopsies (P = NS). We also examined previous Pap smear findings in a control group of 42 cone biopsies with CIN-II or CIN-III, with or without EGI. EGI was diagnosed in previous Pap smears in 3 of the 31(10%) cases that showed signs of EGI on cone biopsies and in 2 of the 11 cases (18%) that did not evidence EGI on subsequent cone biopsies (P = NS). In our experience, the cytologic diagnosis of EGI on Pap smears did not identify a group of patients with increased frequency of EGI on subsequent cone biopsies.

Risk factors for early cytologic abnormalities after loop electrosurgical excision procedure

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate risk factors for early cytologic abnormalities and recurrent cervical dysplasia after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed of all pathology records for LEEPs performed at our institution from January 1996 through July 1998. Follow-up cytology from 2 through 12 months after LEEP was reviewed. Patients with abnormal cytology were referred for further colposcopic evaluation. Statistical analysis using χ2 test for trend, proportional hazards model test, Fisher exact tests, and life table analysis were performed to identify risk factors for early cytologic abnormalities after LEEP and to determine relative risk of recurrent dysplasia.RESULTS:A total of 298 women underwent LEEP during the study period, and 29% of these had cytologic abnormalities after LEEP. Grade of dysplasia, ectocervical marginal status, endocervical marginal status, and glandular involvement with dysplasia were not found to be independent risk factors for early cytologic abnormalities. However, when risk factors were analyzed cumulatively, the abnormal cytology rate increased from 24% with no risk factors to 67% with three risk factors present (P = .037). Of patients with abnormal cytology after LEEP, 40% developed subsequent dysplasia, and the mean time to diagnosis was approximately 6 months. The relative risk of subsequent dysplasia ranged from a 20% increase to twice the risk if post-LEEP cytology was low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, respectively.CONCLUSION:Based on these results, consideration should be given for early colposcopic examination of patients who have evidence of marginal involvement or endocervical glandular involvement with dysplasia. These patients are at increased risk for abnormal cytology and recurrent dysplasia. This initial visit should occur at 6 months, as the mean time to recurrence of dysplasia was 6.5 months.