Once your personal doctor has confirmed that the results from your last few pap smears are abnormal, you will want to talk with a Glendora General Surgeon about your treatment options. Moderate to severe cervical dysplasia is considered precancerous and is not a condition to be ignored. Sometimes test results will indicate that the dysplasia is carcinoma in situ. This means that the abnormality is contained in the area where they initiated and have not yet spread to other areas of the body. The sooner you seek medical attention, the better your chances are to prevent the dysplasia from becoming cancerous.
For moderate, severe, and carcinoma in situ cervical abnormalities, also referred to as lesions, the two preferred treatment methods are Cold Knife Conization and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP). Both procedures are minimally invasive, do not require incisions, and can be done on an out-patient basis.
Cold Knife Conization
This procedure is done in a hospital operating room, and you will be given a general anesthetic so that you will be asleep and not feel any pain. The sedation will also prevent you from making any sudden movements during the surgery that might interfere with the surgeon’s work. You will be lying on an examination table with your feet placed in stirrups, similar to a routine pelvic examination. A medical instrument called a speculum is used to keep the vagina open so that the surgeon has a clear view of your vaginal walls and cervix. A small sample of cervical tissue will be removed using a scalpel. The sample will be diagnosed by a pathologist to determine the extent of abnormal cells or if there are signs of carcinoma in situ. If the cold knife conization procedure is not able to completely remove all of the abnormal cells, then a LEEP procedure will need to be performed.
Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
This procedure can be done in a hospital operating room, an outpatient clinic, or the surgeon’s office. You will be given a local anesthetic to prevent pain, and you will be awake during the treatment. You will be lying on an examination table with your feet placed in stirrups. A medical instrument called a speculum is used to keep the vagina open so that the surgeon has a clear view of your vaginal walls and cervix. A cleansing solution is used to flush out any mucus and to allow the abnormal cells to be seen. A surgical instrument called a colposcope is used to see inside the cervix. A local anesthetic is then used to numb the cervix. An electrically charged thin wire loop is then placed through the speculum into the cervix where it will cut away the abnormal surface tissue. The tissue will then be tested by a pathologist. If it is determined that all of the abnormal cells have been removed, you will not need any further surgery. Because there is the possibility of abnormal cells redeveloping in the future, you will need to continue having routine pap smears with your regular doctor.
