RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) in the management of cervical dysplasia (CD) when colposcopy is satisfactory; to determine if there is a relationship between completeness of excision and outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety loop diathermies performed in the management of CD were studied prospectively. RESULTS: Eighty (88.89%) were indicated due to a high grade CD, 7 (7.78%) due to a low grade CD and 3 LLETZ (3.35%) due to a cytology-biopsy discordance. The margins were free of disease on 69 occasions (76.67%); on 15 (16.67%) the margins were affected by the disease and on 6 (6.67%) they were not evaluable. Using the Kaplan-Meier approach to survival analysis, the cumulative probability of continuing free of disease at the end of our study (36 months) was 0.89. In the margins free of disease group, patients stayed free of disease for an average of 32.98 months, and the cumulative probability of continuing free of disease at 36 months was 0.97. In the affected-margins group, patients stayed free of disease for an average of 20.91 months and the cumulative probability of continuing free of disease at 36 months dropped to 0.70. In the unevaluable-margins group, patients stayed free of disease for an average of 19.50 months and the cumulative probability of continuing free of disease at 36 months dropped still further to 0.67. Applying the Mantel-Cox Log-Rank Test we obtained differences among these three groups that are statistically significant (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: LLETZ could be considered the treatment of choice for CD when colposcopy is satisfactory, as it is effective, simple, fast, inexpensive, unaggressive, and of low morbidity. It also permits adequate pathology reporting. When a pathology report states that the margins of the specimen are not free of disease or are not evaluable, special caution in follow-up may be warranted.