Invasive cancer of the cervix after laser treatment.

Over a period of 8 years and 6 months, 1979-1988, 4222 women were treated with laser ablation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) with or without papillomavirus infection of the cervix. Of 3738 patients followed up, nine were diagnosed as having invasive cancers of the cervix, four of which were microinvasive. It is stressed that each woman treated with laser must have frequent, long-term cytological follow-up.