Cryosurgery. Its use for the abnormal Pap smear

During a two-and-one-half year period, 317 women were seen in the Colposcopy Clinic for evaluation of an abnormal Pap smear. Seventy-four (23%) desired to maintain their childbearing potential and were treated conservatively. Ten (14%) had inadequate colposcopy and underwent cold knife conization of the cervx. The remaining 64 were treated by adequate colposcopy, combined with cryosurgery; they are discussed in detail. All were managed economically as outpatients without anesthesia and no serious complications occurred. To date, only four have recurrent abnormal cervical cytology and several have delivered children. Adequate colposcopic examination combined with biopsies must proceed all cryosurgical procedures performed for abnormal cervical cytology.