Microwave therapy for cervical ectropion

Yang KH, Liu YL, Wu T, Roberts H, Li J, Tian JH, Ma B, Tan JY, Zhang P

Summary

Microwave therapy for cervical ectropion

In western countries, cervical ectropion or erosion is considered to be a normal physiological process not requiring intervention. However, in China, cervical ectropion is considered as one of the most common types of chronic cervicitis and is often treated. One of the topical treatments widely used is microwave tissue coagulation. The authors identified 92 potential randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that compared microwave to no treatment or other treatments from Chinese databases but only three studies were identified as RCTs. The other studies were either retrospective records, or had incorrectly allocated the participants. For some studies we failed to make contact with the original study authors or could not obtain the full text to check the randomization methods that had been used. The review protocol also required participants to be symptomatic with mucopurulent discharge or have contact bleeding before treatment. The authors of the review considered that they could not answer the question about the rationale use of microwave therapy as only three low quality RCTs were found. Although the trials showed improved appearance of the cervix with microwave treatment compared with control therapy, it was not possible to ascertain whether the women were symptomatic before treatment. Further high quality studies are needed.