Course of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosed during pregnancy

Management of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN grade 2 or 3 (CIN2–3)] diagnosed during pregnancy is controversial. Monitoring with colposcopy and cytology every 8–12 weeks is advised by the most current guidelines. This study analyzes the course of disease in pregnant women with abnormal cytologies or clinically suspicious cervixes. In total, 139 pregnant women, at a median age of 31 years (range 19–49), treated at the Colposcopy Unit of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between 2011 and 2017 were identified. During pregnancy, at least one biopsy was performed on 70.5% of patients. In 84.7% of cases, CIN2–3 (CIN2 n = 14 (14.3%), CIN3 n = 69 (70.4%)) was detected, 7.1% (n = 7) of women were diagnosed with CIN1, while no dysplasia was found in 8.2% (n = 8) of cases. No interventions were necessary during pregnancy. Despite explicit invitation, only 72.3% of women with CIN2–3 attended postpartal consultations. While 61.7% showed persistent lesions, 5% were diagnosed with CIN1 and 33.3% with complete remission. During pregnancy, 68.7% of women with prepartal CIN2–3 were tested for HPV infection. Later, 49.1% were followed up postpartally by means of HPV testing and histology. HPV clearance was observed in 36.4% of women with complete histological remission. Postpartum conization was performed on 44.6% of patients with prepartal CIN2–3 diagnosis. CIN2–3 was histologically confirmed in 97.3% cases. Progression from persistent CIN3 to microinvasive carcinoma was observed in a single case. High-grade CIN lesions, diagnosed during pregnancy, show a high rate of regression postpartum; whereas, progression to carcinoma is rare. Close and continuous monitoring rarely has any therapeutic consequences. Compliance for postpartal follow-up needs to be improved.