Local
excisional
treatment for cervical intra
-
epithelial neoplasia (CIN) is linked to
significant
adverse sequelae including preterm birth
, with c
one depth
and
radicality of
treatment correlat
ing
to the frequency and severity of adverse events. Attenuated total
reflect
ion
Fourier
-
transform infra
red (ATR
-
FTIR) spectroscopy
can detect underlying
cervical disease more accurately than conventional cytology.
The chemical
profile of
c
ells
pre
-
and post
-
treatment may differ
as a result of
altered biochemical processes
due to
excis
ion
,
or treatment of the disease.
Since
pre
-
treatment cervi
cal
length var
ies
amongst women
,
the percentage of cervix excised may correlate
more accurately
to
risk
than absolute dimensions
.
We show that t
reatment for CIN significantly
alters
the
biochemistry of
the cervix, compared with
women
who
have not had treatment
; t
his is
due to the excision
of cervical tissue
rather than
a disease
-
controlling effect
. However,
the spectra do
seem to correlate to the cone depth or proportion of cervical lengt
h
excised.
Future research should aim to explore the impact of treatment in a larger
cohort.