[Recovery of cervical portio epithelial integrity using radiofrequency: preliminary results]

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the radiosurgical procedure (high frequency, filtered wave-form energy) in the management of benign lesions of uterine cervix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study a radiothermal cautery treatment by micro-needle was performed to 168 women, attending a gynecology office, with an abnormal cervical cytology, istology and with a colposcopic diagnosis of benign cervical lesions with a total visibility of squamous columnar junction and no extended lesion of cervical canal. Cytology and colposcopy were used to follow up after treatment 3-4 months and 10-12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: 130 women (77.6%) obtained a complete recovery at the first follow-up. Partial treatment failure, defined as the persistence or recurrence of a small cervical lesion after three months, was observed in 19 women (18.2%) but after a second treatment in the 100% we obtained a complete recovery with a well visible squamous columnar junction. Radiothermal cautery procedure was advantageous with a shorter duration of surgery, lower cost, reduced operation bleeding, no need for pain-relieving medication and shorter duration of postoperative disability. CONCLUSIONS: This surgical procedure resulted an excellent technique to obtain a complete epithelial recovery of uterine cervix, easy and cheap to be executed in a outpatient office.