What are my treatment options?

Excisional treatments to remove abnormal cells (LLETZ) have traditionally been offered for CIN2.  However, in recent years colposcopy units across the country have been offering surveillance of CIN2 for some women.

What is active surveillance of CIN2?

Surveillance means close observation with smear tests and colposcopy as an alternative to LLETZ excision.

Why offer surveillance of CIN2?

One reason for offering this newer type of management is that studies have shown that given time, CIN2 has a tendency to return to normal in about half of women with no active treatment.  This is important because there can be risks associated with LLETZ treatment.

Is active surveillance of CIN2 a suitable option for me?

It is important to understand that surveillance of CIN2 is not suitable for all women as it depends upon your individual circumstances. Your team of specialists will take all of your individual circumstances into consideration before making a recommendation for your treatment and you will have an opportunity to select which management suits YOU best. Your opinion matters to us.

What does surveillance of CIN2 involve?

You will usually need to be seen in the colposcopy clinic every 6 months for a smear test and colposcopy until the cells return to normal.  We will usually need to see you for 2 years – you will need to be happy attending at these intervals.

If the CIN2 is still present after 2 years we suggest active treatment with LLETZ.  An immediate treatment would be recommended if the abnormal cells progress in grade or size. It is very important that you attend the colposcopy clinic when any appointment is made for you.  If you cannot attend, for any reason, please let us know so that the appointment can be used by someone else and we can arrange another appointment for you.

Further advice

We hope that you have found this information helpful. If you require any further advice regarding any aspect of your care please do not hesitate to ask the clinic staff on 01228 814220.

Specialist nurse 07500857533 or 01946 523218

They are there to support you and are happy to help with any concerns or anxieties. 

Further information

The British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology www.bsccp.org.uk

Tainio, K. et al. (2018) ‘Clinical course of untreated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 under active surveillance: Systematic Review and meta-analysis’, BMJ. doi:10.1136/bmj.k499.

Confidentiality

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For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302