Is laser treatment also used to remove abnormal cells from the cervix? Why is LLETZ/LEEP treatment now more popular?
Before the introduction of the LLETZ treatment in the early 1990’s, laser treatment was the preferred method to remove pre-cancerous cells from the cervix. After confirming the presence of CIN with a small punch biopsy, a laser beam (high-energy light) was used to vaporise the abnormal area, or the laser beam was used to cut a cone of tissue out similar to the LLETZ/LEEP procedure. Tissue healing after laser treatment was very good. However, laser treatment has largely been replaced by the LLETZ/LEEP. Whereas the equipment for LLETZ/LEEP is much cheaper to buy, use and easier to maintain than laser generators, it is the safety aspect of sending a large amount of tissue for pathological analysis after a LLETZ/LEEP procedure to ensure that a small, invasive cancer has not been missed which attracts gynaecologists to favour LLETZ/LEEP over small biopsy/laser.
