Cervical conization findings in women with dysplastic cervical cytology and normal colposcopy

A review of 134 cervical conizations performed in a 36-month period showed that 18 were performed on patients with two or more cervical smears showing dysplasia but with essentially negative, satisfactory colposcopic evaluations, including normal colposcopically directed biopsies and endocervical curettings. A histologic diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) of various grades was established in 15 (83%) of the 18 conization specimens. Six (33%) of the 18 specimens harbored CIN 3. The histologic diagnosis of a more severe lesion than that indicated on cytology was rendered in five of the cases. Cervical conization should be performed when colposcopic evaluation of the cervix, vagina and vulva fails to identify the source of persistent CIN on Papanicolaou smears.