# Colposcopy and excisional treatment (LEEP/LLETZ, cone)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/colposcopy-excision/  
OnCo record `colposcopy-excision` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Looking at the cervix with a magnifier after a positive screen, then removing the abnormal patch with an electric wire loop in a clinic visit.

## Summary

Colposcopy with acetic acid and biopsy confirms high-grade lesions; LEEP/LLETZ or cold-knife conisation removes them with cure rates above 90%. Excision slightly raises preterm birth risk, which drives interest in ablation and in 'see-and-treat' for HSIL. AI-assisted colposcopy is being validated for settings without specialists.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: standard-of-care
- Last checked: 2026-09-07
- Principle: Magnified inspection with contrast agents to target biopsy, followed by electrosurgical excision of the transformation zone.
- Strengths: Outpatient, definitive histology; High cure rate
- Limitations: Requires trained providers and equipment; Obstetric risk after excision

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_electrical_excision_procedure
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_electrical_excision_procedure

## Connected records

- cancers: [Cervical cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/cervical/), [Early cervical cancer and fertility-sparing surgery](https://onco.cc/cancers/early-cervical-cancer/), [Vaginal adenocarcinoma (including DES-associated clear cell adenocarcinoma)](https://onco.cc/cancers/vaginal-adenocarcinoma/), [Vaginal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/vaginal/), [Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-associated)](https://onco.cc/cancers/vaginal-squamous-cell-carcinoma/)
- fronts: [Early Detection & Screening](https://onco.cc/fronts/early-detection/), [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Colposcopes and digital cervical screening devices (DYSIS, EVA System, AVE)](https://onco.cc/technologies/colposcopes-digital-cervical-screening/), [HPV DNA testing and self-sampling](https://onco.cc/technologies/hpv-testing/), [Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical screening](https://onco.cc/technologies/via-cervical-screening/)
- terms: [Cervical precancer (CIN, HSIL/LSIL)](https://onco.cc/terms/cin-hsil/)
- trials: [Mumbai VIA cervical screening trial (Tata Memorial)](https://onco.cc/trials/mumbai-via-screening/), [Osmanabad cervical screening trial (HPV testing vs cytology vs VIA)](https://onco.cc/trials/osmanabad-hpv-screening/)
- people: [Jade Goody](https://onco.cc/people/jade-goody/), [Surendra Shastri](https://onco.cc/people/shastri-surendra/)
- pathways: [Basement membrane & tissue barriers](https://onco.cc/pathways/basement-membrane-tissue-barriers/), [Oncogenic viruses](https://onco.cc/pathways/oncogenic-viruses/)
- companies: [DYSIS Medical](https://onco.cc/companies/dysis-medical/)

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