Loss to follow-up in patients diagnosed with or treated for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial…

Cohort studyActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica· Jul 2026

Loss to follow-up in patients diagnosed with or treated for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: A comparison of general practitioner- and gynecologist-led surveillance.

Lieke van de Kam, Albert Siebers, Ruud Bekkers … Jurgen Piek

Gynecologic CancerCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 3.3

General practitioner follow-up for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions linked to higher loss.

Loss to follow-up in patients diagnosed with or treated for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: A comparison of general practitioner- and gynecologist-led surveillance.

Lieke van de Kam … Jurgen Piek

Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Background

Cervical carcinoma can be prevented by treating precancerous lesions, which are classified as low-grade (LSIL) and high-grade (HSIL) squamous intraepithelial lesions.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with LSIL or treated HSIL by the gynecologist, with no prior history of SIL or cervical cancer, who either underwent cytological follow-up at the gynecologist or the general practitioner.

38.1%

Results

38.1%

patients with low-grade precancerous cervical lesions missing family doctor follow-up

More results

A total of 691 patients were followed up by the gynecologist, and 1172 by the general practitioner.

For treated HSIL, 44.3% (132/298) were lost to follow-up at 24 months in the general practitioner group, versus 24.1% (33/137) in the gynecologist group (p < 0.001).

“

Conclusion

Follow-up by a general practitioner after a diagnosis of LSIL or treated HSIL is associated with nearly twice the rate of loss to follow-up compared to follow-up by a gynecologist.

Loss to follow-up in patients diagnosed with or treated for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: A comparison of general practitioner- and gynecologist-led surveillance.

Loss to follow-up in patients diagnosed with or treated for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: A comparison of general practitioner- and gynecologist-led surveillance.

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