Cervical cancer: screening, diagnosis and staging.

TLDR

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in developing countries, yet its incidence has fallen in the developed world thanks to screening and HPV testing, although HPV infection remains common and the disease itself is relatively rare. The study aims to evaluate how screening programs detect pre‑cancerous cervical lesions early to prevent progression to invasive cancer. The authors employ Pap smears and HPV DNA tests per American Cancer Association guidelines, with treatment decisions based on FIGO 2009 staging. Populations with extensive screening have seen a 50–75 % reduction in cervical cancer mortality over the past five decades.

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the widespread screening programs, cervical cancer remains the third most common cancer in developing countries. Based on the implementation of cervical screening programs with the referred adoption of improved screening methods in cervical cytology with the knowledge of the important role of the human papilloma virus (HPV) it's incidence is decreased in the developed world. Even if cervical HPV infection is incredibly common, cervical cancer is relatively rare. Depending on the rarity of invasive disease and the improvement of detection of pre-cancerous lesions due to the participation in screening programs, the goal of screening is to detect the cervical lesions early in order to be treated before cancer is developed. In populations with many preventive screening programs, a decrease in cervical cancer mortality of 50-75% is mentioned over the past 50 years. The preventive examination of vagina and cervix smear, Pap test, and the HPV DNA test are remarkable diagnostic tools according to the American Cancer Association guidelines, in the investigation of asymptomatic women and in the follow up of women after the treatment of pre-invasive cervical cancer. The treatment of cervical cancer is based on the FIGO 2009 cervical cancer staging.