Thermocoagulation versus cryotherapy for the treatment of cervical precancers

Aim To compare thermocoagulation and cryotherapy for treatment of high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Methods From May 2017 to May 2018, women with CIN2/3 were randomized to thermocoagulation or cryotherapy at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. Follow‐up at 4 and 8 months included cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. Women who were HPV‐positive or had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or higher‐grade disease underwent colposcopy/biopsy. Results Among 149 women enrolled, 74 were randomized to thermocoagulation, and 75 to cryotherapy (excluded four were immediately referred for thermocoagulation due to large lesions). At follow‐up, there was no difference between the thermocoagulation and cryotherapy groups in HPV‐negative (4/8 months: 72.5%/86.2% vs 68.6%/80.6%) and pathology‐negative (97.1%/98.5% vs 94.3%/92.3%) rates (all P > 0.05). The cytology‐negative rate was similar for thermocoagulation and cryotherapy at 4 months (79.7% vs 78.9%, P > 0.05), but higher for thermocoagulation at 8 months (100% vs 88.7%, P