Exploring conservative management for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 in organised cervical cancer screening programmes: a multicentre study in Italy

Abstract

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) lesions may regress spontaneously, offering an alternative to immediate treatment, especially for women of childbearing age (15–45 years).We conducted a prospective multicentre study on conservative CIN2 management, with semiannual follow-up visits over 24 months, biomarkers’ investigation and treatment for progression to CIN3+ or CIN2 persistence for more than 12 months. Here, we assess women’s willingness to participate and adherence to the study protocol.The study was set in population-based organised cervical cancer screening.From April 2019 to October 2021, 640 CIN2 cases were diagnosed in women aged 25–64 participating in the screening programmes.According to our predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 228 (35.6%) women were not eligible; 93 (22.6%) of the 412 eligible refused, and 319 (77.4%) were enrolled. Refusal for personal reasons (ie, desire to become pregnant, anxiety, difficulty in complying with the study protocol) and external barriers (ie, residence elsewhere and language problems) accounted for 71% and 17%, respectively. Only 9% expressed a preference for treatment. The primary ineligibility factor was the upper age limit of 45 years. After enrolment, 12 (4%) women without evidence of progression requested treatment, 125 (39%) were lost to follow-up (mostly after 6–12 months) and 182 (57%) remained compliant. Remarkably, 40% of enrolees did not fully adhere to the protocol, whereas only 5% (20/412) of the eligible women desired treatment.Our study demonstrates a good acceptance of conservative management for CIN2 lesions by the women, supporting its implementation within cervical screening programmes.