Electrocoagulation diathermy for the treatment of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ.

This report presents further experience in the use of electrocoagulation diathermy for the treatment of patients with cervical intraepithelial disease. By means of the colposcope it was possible to select a group of nonpregnant patients, in whom a proven noninvasive lesion was located entirely within range of the colposcope. This group, comprising 450 patients, has been treated by means of electrocoagulation diathermy, and with followup, only 28 patients have shown evidence of a residual lesion; in 8 of these the residual lesion has been eradicated subsequently by repeat diathermy treatment. Significant complications following electrocoagulation diathermy occurred in 13 patients (3%). The overall apparent cure rate for electrocoagulation diathermy was 95.4%.