Value of endocervical curettage in follow-up for patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia stage 2+ after loop electrosurgical excision.

OBJECTIVE To assess the value of endocervical curettage (ECC) during follow-up for patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) after loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEP) and to explore risk factors for positive ECC during this evaluation. METHODS There were 383 CIN2+ patients in the one-step method group who underwent LEEP and were prospectively followed up using ECC as a routine strategy, with colposcopy and liquid-based cytology (LCT) + human papilloma virus (HPV) co-testing performed. The finding were then compared with those from 1041 patients in the retrospective database who underwent colposcopy unless LCT and/or HPV screening was abnormal, and ECC was performed depending on colposcopy images (two-step method group). The two groups were matched using propensity score matching analysis for further statistical comparisons. RESULTS In total, 383 pairs of patients from both groups were matched. The persistent/recurrent CIN2+ cases were 20 and 21, respectively (P > .05). However, 47 persistent/recurrent CIN1 cases were detected in the one-step method group; this number was significantly higher than that detected in the two-step method group (P < .05). High-risk factors for positive ECC during follow-up included positive ECC before treatment (odds ratio [OR]: 1.670), involved margins (OR: 1.239), and HPV infection and abnormal LCT during follow-up (ORs: 3.130 and 2.637). CONCLUSIONS ECC can detect early recurrent lesions after LEEP in patients with CIN2+ and can offset the limitation of colposcopy and co-testing resulting from LEEP. For patients with positive ECC before LEEP, involved margins, HPV infection, and abnormal LCT after treatment, ECC should be included in the follow-up strategy.