Possible Result	What Your Health Care Provider May Recommend
Tissue appears normal	If cervical tissue appears normal, your health care provider may not need to do any further testing or treatment right away, but may recommend a repeat Pap test or HPV test in 6-12 months.
Tissue shows only mild changes (low-grade)	Biopsy may have removed all abnormal tissue. You may or may not need more treatment--even if some abnormal tissue remains. Your health care provider may not need to do any further testing or treatment right away, but may recommend a repeat Pap test or HPV test in 6-12 months.
Results are unclear	Your doctor may do more tests, such as conization.
Severe (high-grade) changes are found	You will need treatment to remove more tissue. Your doctor may perform LEEP, cryotherapy, laser therapy, or conization.
Invasive cancer cells are found	Your doctor will do more tests to find out the stage (extent) of the cancer. Your treatment will depend on: The stage of your cancer Your age Whether you may want to become pregnant Your general health Other factors

To learn about more treatment options, see the National Cancer Institute booklet, "What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Cervix ¹," or visit www.cancer.gov and search for "cervical cancer."

Glossary Terms

Surgery to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix and cervical canal. Conization may be used to diagnose or treat a cervical condition. Also called cone biopsy.

Any method that uses cold temperature to treat disease.

Treatment that uses intense, narrow beams of light to cut and destroy tissue, such as cancer tissue. Laser therapy may also be used to reduce lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue) after breast cancer surgery.

A technique that uses electric current passed through a thin wire loop to remove abnormal tissue. Also called loop electrosurgical excision procedure and loop excision.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.