Thermal Artifact in Patients Undergoing Conization: A Clinical Study

Comparison of the Effects of Different Surgical Techniques on the Degree of Thermal Artifact in Patients Undergoing Conization: A Clinical Study

Cervical transformation zone excision is commonly used in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Thermal artifacts can negatively affect histopathological evaluation. This study compares three different modifications of conization performed using electrosurgery in terms of the degree of thermal artifacts.

Conization procedures performed using electrosurgical techniques, such as LEEP, NETZ, and SWETZ, are well described in the literature. Compared with cold knife conization, these methods offer several advantages, including the ability to be performed under local anesthesia, shorter procedure time, and lower cost. However, electrosurgical techniques may compromise histopathological evaluation of surgical specimens due to the presence of thermal artifacts, which can obscure tissue architecture and surgical margins.

In our clinic, conization procedures are routinely performed using a hybrid technique that combines electrosurgery with cold knife conization. This study aims to compare three different modifications of this hybrid technique applied in our institution with respect to the degree of thermal artifact formation and the quality of surgical margin evaluation.

Inclusion Criteria:Women aged ≥18 years

Indication for LLETZ based on abnormal cervical cytology and/or biopsy

Ability to provide written informed consent -

Exclusion Criteria: Previous cervical excisional procedure

Pregnancy

Active cervical infection

History of cervical cancer

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