Comparison of office loop electrosurgical conization and cold knife conization.

A group of 98 patients with abnormal Papanicolaou smears underwent cold knife conization or loop electrosurgical conization after colposcopic examination and biopsy. Average duration of surgery, intraoperative bleeding, rate of complications, and cost of the procedure were significantly less for the electrosurgical conization group. We conclude that this procedure may be performed in the office in place of hospital cold knife conization for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.