Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Multiplex Immunohistochemical Analysis of the Spatial Immune Cell Landscape of the Tumor Microenvironment
Published on: August 18, 2023
Use of loop electrosurgical excision procedure specimens to provide tissue fractions for immunologic analyses
Aparna Diwan1, Peggy A Crowley-Nowick, Christopher P Crum
1Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Objective:
To determine if dividing loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) specimens to provide tissue for research increases rates of LEEP specimen misdiagnosis and recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Materials And Methods:
In this chart review, 42 women with biopsy-confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2,3 had up to 20% of their LEEP specimens sectioned and used for immunologic analysis. The remainder of each specimen was assessed routinely. Follow-up cytologic analyses and cervical biopsies also were assessed. This cohort was compared with a control cohort of 80 patients with biopsy confirmed CIN 2,3 whose LEEP specimens were not divided. Statistical significance was defined as a p value of < .05.
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to histologic assessment of LEEP specimens or follow-up outcomes.
Conclusions:
Use of up to 20% of LEEP specimens for research purposes neither adversely affects histologic evaluation of LEEP specimens nor leads to poorer follow-up outcomes.
