Do we perform too many procedures for cervical dysplasia in young women?

This study aimed to determine if there are differences in the histological findings of excisional biopsies between younger women (aged ≤25 years) and older women who undergo large loop excision of the transformation zone or cone biopsy for a biopsy-proven high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL).

A retrospective cohort analysis of women referred to a tertiary hospital colposcopy clinic with a colposcopically directed biopsy of HSIL (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 [CIN 2] or CIN 3) during the period of 2008 to 2011 was performed.The histological excisional biopsy specimens for younger women (aged ≤25 years) were compared with those of older women (aged >25 years.) Bivariate analysis comparing demographic characteristics and outcomes across the 2 study groups was initially undertaken to identify potential confounders for inclusion in the multivariate analysis.

Of 348 women who had a satisfactory colposcopic assessment and reported no previous treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 87 were 25 years or younger, and 261 women were older than 25 years. After excisional biopsy of the cervix, the histological specimen for younger women was more likely to be reported as CIN 1 or no dysplasia (16.3% vs 8.2%). When adjusted for confounders (parity, smoking, previous sexual infection, and referring Pap smear), age less than 25 years remained an independent predictor of having a histological excisional biopsy specimen reported as CIN 1 or no dysplasia (adjusted odds ratio = 2.35; 95% confidence interval = 1.0-5.49).

Younger women with biopsy-proven HSIL (CIN 2/3), have a higher likelihood that the histological specimen after an excisional biopsy of the cervix will be reported as CIN 1 or no dysplasia.