[Spontaneous regression of flat condylomata of the cervix]

In this study 146 patients with a human papilloma virus infection of the cervix detected on cervical smear. This infection was at the worst associated with CIN 1 or CIN 2. No treatment was carried out on these patients except for advising the use of condoms. Among the 123 women whose diagnosis was CIN 1, 65.2% of them had a negative smear within 18 months. This somewhat high rate of spontaneous regression was found in out patients who were not selected. They are near the results published by Brown in a similar study. The statistics drawn from hospital patients give lower regression rates; but these patients were selected by their doctors because they did not show regression on subsequent smears. It is therefore recommended that these patients should be assessed colposcopically and there should be a wait of 6-12 months before treating patients with CIN 1.