[The use of electrosurgery in the treatment of extra-cervical genital condylomatosis].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of electrosurgery in the treatment of HPV correlated extra-cervical genital lesions. METHODS: A group of 78 patients with clinical or colposcopic, histologically ascertained vulvar or perineal condylomatosis were enrolled consecutively between March 1994 and July 1995 at the Cervico-Vaginal and Vulvar Pathology Unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at Tor Vergata University, Rome. All patients underwent physical treatment with a radiofrequency electrosurgical knife using exclusively cutting current. In addition to patient compliance, the following parameters were evaluated: length of surgery and recovery times, collateral effects and possible long-term results; a colposcopic and, if necessary, bioptic follow-up was also performed at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: Seven out of the group of 68 patients with subclinical condylomatosis presented histologically documented recidivation during the course of follow-up. In the discussion the authors evaluate the positive results obtained using this method and, based on the physical principle underlying electroradiosurgery, they suggest using the term electrosurgical vaporisation for destructive electrotherapy using a cutting current, which is suited to the physical mechanism with which this current acts.