Résumé
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate correlation of sites of positive margin and residual tumor and to establish management after conization. METHODS: Of 599 cold-knife conizations [15 (2.6%) with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, 37 (6.1%) with CIN II, 450 (75.1%) with CIN III, 97 (16.2%) with microinvasion] performed at our institution from January, 1993 to June, 2006, 144 patients (24.0%) had positive margins and 113 patients were included in the retrospective study excluding 31 cases that were not followed more than 12 months. Correlation of conization pathology and residual tumor according to sites of positive margin were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of positive margins were 6.7% (1/15) in CIN I, 21.6% (8/37) in CIN II, 21.1% (95/450) in CIN III, and 41.2% (40/97) in microinvasion. The prevalence rate of positive margin increased with severity of conization pathology (P=0.0001). Of 113 patients followed more than 12 months, 27.4% (31/113) had residual tumor [0.0% (0/1) in CIN I, 12.5% (1/8) in CIN II, 18.9% (14/74) in CIN III, and 53.3% (16/30) in microinvasion]. The prevalence rate of residual tumor increased with severity of conization pathology (P=0.0028). Residual tumor was more common in patients in whom both endocervical and exocervical margins or in whom only the endocervical margin were involved than in those in whom only exocervical margin was involved [87.5% (7/8) or 35.3% (24/68) versus 0% (0/37), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Expectant management is reasonable for patients with positive margin after conization. However, careful follow-up of these patients is essential, particularly in endocervical involvement.