The importance of cauterization to maintain a healthy cervix. Long-term study from a private gynecologic practice.

A total of 13,897 patients from a private gynecologic practice were retrospectively analyzed with special regard to the benefits obtained from hot linear cautery. This has been performed as an office procedure since 1937, providing unique long-term follow-up. The exposed cervical transitional zone and mild, atypical, or dysplastic cervical cytology were so treated in 6,364 patients. A significantly higher percentage of carcinoma in situ and invasive disease was found in the noncauterized cervices. With the trend of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) toward development at an earlier age in today's population, the importance of office cauterization in preventing cervical cancer becomes apparent.