Optimizing Follow-Up of Women with CIN2

For women with diagnoses of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 (CIN2), the optimal follow-up remains unclear. To assess the natural history of CIN2, investigators reviewed 36 studies involving 3160 women with CIN2 that was followed without treatment. Pooled outcomes included spontaneous regression, persistence, or progression to CIN3 or cancer.

At 2 years' follow-up, 50% of lesions had regressed, 32% persisted, and 18% had progressed. In subset analyses, for women younger than 30, regression rates were higher (60%) whereas persistence (23%) and progression (11%) were lower. Moreover, progression rates were even lower among women who were negative for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV; 3%) and those who were negative for HPV16/18 (5%).