[Precancerous lesions of the cervix. Diagnosis and treatment (author's transl)].

In gynaecological practice, the problem of precancerous lesions of the cervix arises under three different circumstances : --ectropion, --dysplasia, --in a young girl when the mother has taken Stilbestrol. The literature is reviewed in these three cases : --ectropion is an anatomical state which does not absolutely require treatment. According to the majority of authors it would not appear that its destruction is useful in the prophylaxis of carcinoma of the cervix; --dysplasia, although it does not always progress to a carcinoma, would seem to be a potentially malignant state, the diagnosis of which must be made by the combination of cytology, colposcopy and biopsy. Treatment is based upon the topography of the lesion, its severity and the age of the patient : either conservative if the patient is young and wishes to have children, or surgical (conisation or hysterectomy) if she is older, does not want any more children or has an additional gynaecological problem. --in the presence of a lesion in a young girl whose mother has taken Stilboestrol, precise diagnosis must be made by biopsy with surveillance and treatment of lesions of adenosis, either by progesterone pessaries or by excision.