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Investigation of 100 consecutive negative cone biopsies
Author(s) -
Golbang Pouran,
Scurry James,
Jong Sarah,
McKenzie Dominique,
Planner Robert,
Pyman Jan,
Davoren Ruth
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb10658.x
Subject(s) - colposcopy , medicine , cytology , biopsy , histology , cervix , malignancy , radiology , gynecology , pathology , cancer , cervical cancer
Objective To investigate the reasons for cone biopsies reported as not containing intraepithelial or invasive malignancy and thereby find ways to decrease their incidence. Design One hundred cone biopsies reported as negative were identified out of a total of 436 consecutive cone biopsies. The patients' cytology, colposcopy and histology reports and cytology and histology slides were reviewed. Further opinions in cases of doubt were obtained in cytology and histology. In cone biopsies still considered negative after reviews, deeper levels were cut, exhausting all paraffin blocks. Follow up cytology, colposcopy and histology were reviewed. Setting Gynaecological oncology unit in a university teaching hospital. Results After re‐evaluation the final diagnoses of cone biopsies initially reported as negative were positive ( n = 21 ), unsatisfactory ( n = 27 ) and true negative ( n = 51 ), with one case excluded because of insufficient material for review. The positive cases were diagnosed on review ( n = 11 ) or extra levels ( n = 10 ). The unsatisfactory cases were all due to denudation. The 51 true negative cases were divided into those which never had had histologic confirmation by punch biopsy or endocervical curettage ( n = 47 ) and those with a previously confirmed histological abnormality ( n = 4 ). Conclusions The number of negative cone biopsies can be reduced by: 1. taking Pap smears after correction of atrophy and inflammation; 2. more scrupulous colposcopy aimed at reducing the number of unsatisfactory colposcopies or misinterpreted colposcopic findings; this thorough examination should include the vagina and vulva; 3. confirmation of smear and colposcopic findings by biopsy prior to cold‐knife conisation and performing a large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) for cases where there is a discrepancy between the smear abnormality and colposcopy/biopsy findings; 4. good quality cone biopsies using a technique that does not handle the mucosa and is performed after the mucosa has had time to regenerate following the colposcopic investigations; and 5. exhausting all blocks with multiple levels before reporting a cone biopsy as negative.