Is loop excision adequate primary management of adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix?

Objective To assess the efficacy of cervical loop excision as primary management of adenocarcinoma in situ. Design A two‐centre retrospective study. Setting Birmingham and Midlands Hospital for Women and City Hospital NHS Trust. Population Nineteen women with a histological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ (high grade CIGN) of the cervix made on diathermy loop excision. Main outcome measures Presence or absence of adenocarcinoma in situ at loop specimen margins, results of cervical cytological examinations following loop excision, results of histopathological assessment of any surgical specimens taken after initial loop excision. Results Of the 19 women with confirmed adenocarcinoma in situ on loop excision, the median age was 31, and 8 (42%) were nulliparous. The median follow up of these women was 19 months. Eleven women were treated by loop excision alone and have had normal follow up to 18 months. Five women have undergone further surgical procedures, four had a hysterectomy and one had a repeat loop excision. No residual disease was found in any of these surgical specimens, confirming that loop excision was adequate primary management of the disease. Three women have had abnormal endocervical follow up cytology suggestive of residual disease. One of these three women may represent a case of residual endocervical disease. Excision margins of the loop specimen were not involved by adenocarcinoma in situ in 11 women. However, excision margin status of the loop specimen did not appear to be predictive of residual disease. Conclusions Our small retrospective study suggests that diathermy loop excision of the cervix is adequate primary management of adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix. Cytological and colposcopic follow up, including cytobrush endocervical cytological sampling and long term follow up, is recommended in these women.