Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with the carbon dioxide laser

Between 1978 and 1983, one hundred and forty-six patients with CIN I-III were treated with the carbon dioxide laser and 129 have been followed for 6 to 58 months. The remission rate was 92.2% after one treatment and 98.4% after two treatments. All persistent lesions were detected within 8 weeks after treatment. After confirmation of remission, 4 patients (3.1%) developed recurrence of CIN at an average of 37 months after treatment. The CO2 laser therapy is safe, effective, and cost saving for the patient, but a certain rate of recurrence is to be expected and the necessity of a long-term follow-up is stressed.