A randomized prospective study comparing three techniques of conization: cold knife, laser, and LEEP.

Three different techniques of cervical excision, cold knife conization, laser conization, and loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP) were prospectively compared with respect to treatment reliability, effectiveness, and safety. One hundred ten women with CIN1-2 and the squamnocolumnar junction not seen or CIN3 at the original diagnosis were randomized to treatment with cold knife conization (n = 37), laser conization (n = 37), or LEEP (n = 36). All three treatments were performed with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

[Vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasms. Development of ideas and facts].

The authors report their personal experience concerning the recent increase in the frequency of VINs and demonstrate how the mean age of the patients has decreased. They advocate "vulvoscopy" and guided biopsy for screening. VIN I and II may be treated with local chemotherapy and/or laser vaporisation.

[Unexpected positive results in vaginal smears].

Cervicovaginal cytological screening is carried out nowadays at a periodicity dictated by epidemiological experience, in order to detect neoplastic lesions as early as possible. When the vaginal smear test gives an unexpected positive result, a certain number of problems arise which not only relate to the development of lesions but also involve the gynecologist, the laboratory technician and the patient herself. The authors have used three different surveys to study the frequency of this situation and its etiological circumstances, in order to define the conditions that optimize reliability of the cytological examination in daily practice.

V factor (tumor volume) and T factor (FIGO classification) in the assessment of cervix cancer prognosis: the risk of lymph node spread.

An attempt was made by investigation of the operative specimens from 98 patients suffering from epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix to assess the relationship between lymphatic spread on one hand and tumor volume and anatomical stage on the other hand. Within the same anatomical stage the risk of lymphatic spread is more important as the tumor volume increases. The reverse is also true.

[Value of differential cytology in the diagnosis of preclinical forms of cervix uteri cancer].

The value of "differential cytology" in the diagnosis of preclinical carcinoma of the cervix uteri was assessed from serial sections of operative specimens in a series of 452 patients. Although not absolute, this value was found to be considerable. Used to supplement colposcopy-guided biopsy, it makes it possible to decide on the therapeutic approach (notably simple destruction by laser) without having recourse to conization.