Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Inclusion criteria for the study design were not explicitly stated.
Specific interventions included in the review
Inclusion criteria for the intervention were not explicitly stated. Various interventions were used in the included studies, ranging from hysterectomy to more conservative approaches such as cone biopsy (knife and laser), laser vaporisation, diathermy ablation and cryotherapy. Most studies performed annual smears after the first 1 to 2 years of more intensive surveillance with cytology. Some studies performed colposcopy and histological investigations.
Participants included in the review
Women who had been treated for CIN were eligible for inclusion. Where stated, CIN III was found in 32 to 100% of women in the included studies. None of the studies included women treated for micro-invasive disease.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies evaluating the effects of treatment for CIN over a follow-up period of at least 5 years were eligible. Studies had to clearly define the recurrence of disease and report the number of women under follow-up, as well as those developing a recurrence of CIN or cervical cancer during specified intervals.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Two reviewers examined at least some of the articles in detail, but the authors did not state how any disagreements were resolved.