[Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Terminology, diagnosis and treatment]

Today cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I-III) is the most commonly used term for lesions which in earlier years were called dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. The introduction of cytologic smears in the 1960s resulted in a sharp increase in the number of such lesions reported to the Cancer Registry of Norway. Each year close to 900 new cases are registered. Diagnosis and treatment are strongly dependent on colposcopy and endocervical curettage. Ectocervical lesions may well be treated by destructive methods such as cryosurgery, cold coagulation, electrocoagulation diathermy or laser vaporization. For lesions extending up into the endocervix, conisation is the best method, preferably performed by laser. A series of 171 cases of CIN I-III reported during the years 1953-86 shows that invasive cancer may occur also with free margins on the cone, and as long as 10-20 years after primary treatment. Careful and almost life-long follow-up is therefore essential.