[Cryotherapy of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Long-term prognosis]

Cryotherapy for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was performed in 261 patients and the patients were followed for five to 10 years. Cure rate fed significantly with inoeasing grade of CIN and with endocervical involvement. In pure exocervical lesions, 91% and 77.8% of patients with respectively CIN II and CIN III were cured. In patients with endocervical involvement, the grade of lesion was not significant. Life-table calculations showed an over-all risk of persisting CIN during the first year of observation of 8.8%, and a risk of 0.8% during years 6 to 10. Patients age was of no significance. Endocervical involvement should be a contraindication to cryotherapy, and a careful follow-up schedule is mandatory. A careful colposcopic examination especially concerning the lesion area might help to increase the cure rate in patients with exocervical CIN III lesions.