Thermal Artifact in Patients Undergoing Conization: A Clinical Study

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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