Complications of laser conization versus loop electrosurgical excision procedure in pre- and postmenopausal patients

Purpose ofinvestigation: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the results and complications of laser conization and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), performed for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or microinvasive carcinoma, between postmenopausal and premenopausal patients.

This study recruited a total of 551 patients. In the laser group (n = 405), there were 361 (89.1%) premenopausal and 44 (10.9%) postmenopausal women. In the LEEP group (n = 146), there were 129 (88.4%) premenopausal and 17 (11.6%) postmenopausal women. The factors investigated in both groups were the length of the tissue cone removed and the presence of positive endocervical cone margins, residual disease, and cervical stenosis.

In the laser group, the length of the tissue cone was significantly longer in postmenopausal patients (17.9 ±3.9 mm vs. 15.7 ± 3.6mm; p = 0.002). The rate of positive endocervical margins was significantly higher in premenopausal patients (9.1% vs. 0%; p = 0.037). The rate of cervical stenosis was significantly higher in postmenopausal patients (59.1% vs. 8.3%; p < 0.0001). In the LEEP group, there were no differences in the length of the tissue cone (premenopausal, 11.7 ± 1.9 mm vs. postmenopausal, 11.4 ± 2.7 mm; p = 0.12), the rate of positive endocervical margins (24.0% vs. 17.6%), or the rate of residual disease (13.2% vs. 17.6%). The rate of cervical stenosis was significantly higher in postmenopausal patients (23.5% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.002); however this rate was significantly lower than that seen in the laser group.

In postmenopausal patients, the rates of positive endocervical cone margins and of residual disease were higher in the LEEP group; however, the rate of cervical stenosis was higher in the laser group. Physicians should be aware of the characteristics of the devices used for cervical conization in postmenopausal women with CIN.