Large loop excision of the transformation zone for cervical dysplasia

SummaryFifty patients with histologically confirmed cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN 2) or 3 (CIN 3) were treated by large loop excision of the transformation zone. The procedure was without complication in all cases, and 47/50 (94 per cent) were pain free. The large loop diathermy technique of treating cervical dysplasia offers the advantages of simplicity, speed of operation, improved quality of histological material and low equipment cost over the carbon dioxide laser. Moreover, in those patients requiring ablation only, a histological specimen is available allowing a confirmatory diagnosis to be made, unlike laser ablation where tissue is simply vaporised.