Cancer In Low-resource Settings Research Articles

Cervicography as an adjunctive test to visual inspection with acetic acid in cervical cancer detection screening

Objective: Validate Digital Cervicography as adjunctive cervical cancer screening test to VIA and Cytology. Method: Women (1292) were submitted to both cytological and VIA tests to obtain a sample of 301 positive VIA cases (23.3%) which have had the Digital Cervicography (DC) taken and evaluated. Just cases considered positive by DC (149/301 cases — 49.5%) and/or positive Pap smear tests were referred to colposcopy and biopsy whenever indicated. Results: Cervical smear was positive in 5.4%, including LGSIL (4%), HGSIL (1%) and one case of invasive cancer (0.4%), and 1.6% of ASCUS or AGUS). DC identified 81 positive cases (74 LGSIL; 5 HGSIL; 2 cancers). The sensitivity of cytology was 14.8%, and the DC was 100%. Corresponding specificities were 95.4% and 69.1%, respectively. The NPV and PPV for DC were 100% and 54.4%. Conclusion: DC increases sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of VIA, becoming a valid adjunctive screening test for cervical cancer in low resource settings.

Preventing cervical cancer in low-resource settings: How far have we come and what does the future hold?

The Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention (ACCP) came together in 1999 to answer key research questions and to advocate for greater global and national interest in reducing the heavy burden of morbidity and mortality caused by this preventable disease. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with Lugol's iodine (VILI), and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests have been shown to be viable alternatives to traditional cytology. ACCP experience confirmed that cryotherapy is a safe and effective method that is acceptable to women and can be delivered by a range of health providers, including nonphysicians. Programs can maximize coverage by accommodating local needs and involving community leaders and women in planning and implementation. Advocacy efforts have led to significant policy changes and galvanized support for cervical cancer prevention. Despite the prospect of new HPV vaccines, screening will be needed for at least the next 30–40 years. Our experience has shown that with creativity, flexibility, and well-focused use of resources, the inequitable burden of cervical cancer borne by women in poor countries can be sharply reduced.

Adjunctive testing for cervical cancer in low resource settings with visual inspection, HPV, and the Pap smear

Objective: To test whether the performance of visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) could be improved through adjunctive testing and to determine whether the combination of visual inspection of the cervix and HPV testing could prove useful for identifying those at highest risk of cervical precancer. Methods: Between October 1995 and August 1997, 2199 women willing to be screened for cervical cancer in peri-urban clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe received VIA, Pap smear and HPV as screening tests. The presence or absence of (pre)cancer was confirmed via colposcopy with biopsy as indicated for >97% of all women. Computerized simulations of sequential testing scenarios provided estimates of the joint (net) test qualities of different paired combinations of the three tests and allowed for comparisons with the individual test qualities. Results: Using HGSIL/CIN II-III as the reference threshold of disease, the net sensitivity and specificity of VIA and HPV when used sequentially were 63.6 and 81.9%, respectively, compared to 43.3 and 91%, respectively, when Pap smears were followed by HPV testing. VIA followed by the Pap smear yielded a net sensitivity of 37.5% and net specificity of 94.3%. Conclusions: For programs with limited resources but with the capacity for HPV testing, sequential testing involving the use of VIA followed by HPV could yield fewer false positives than the use of VIA alone at a cost of relatively few additional false negatives.

Diagnostic Value of VIA Comparing with Conventional Pap Smear in the Detection of Colposcopic Biopsy Proved CIN

Aim: A study to assess the role of visual inspection with acetic acid VIA as an alternative to Pap smear in screening program for cervical cancer in low resource settings. Method: Two hundred and twenty five women in reproductive age group attending the Gynecology department at K.S Hegde Charitable Hospital were enrolled in the study. A Papanicolaou smear and visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid was done. All women then underwent colposcopy using the video colposcope. All patients who tested positive on screening then underwent colposcopy guided biopsy. Pap smear of Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and above was taken as abnormal. The statistical test used was chi square test and results were computed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12.0. Results: Out of 225 patients, VIA was positive in 27(12%) patients and Pap smear was abnormal in 26(11.7%). There were 15 LSIL, 6 high Grade Squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and 5 were squamous cell carcinoma. On biopsy, there were 15 mild dysplasia, 2 moderate dysplasia, 4 severe dysplasia and 3 squamous cancers. Pap smear had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 98%, and positive predictive value of 80 % and negative predictive value of 97.9%. VIA had a sensitivity of 70.8%, specificity of 95%, and positive predictive value of 62.9 % and negative predictive value of 96.5%. Conclusion: Since diagnostic values of VIA is comparable to Pap smear, and it performs well in detecting high grade lesion we conclude that VIA can be used as a screening modality for cervical cancer in low resource settings. Keywords: Cervical cancer in low resource settings, Pap smear- colposcopy, visual inspection with acetic acid DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njog.v6i1.5245 NJOG 2011; 6(1): 7-12

Diagnostic value of VIA comparing with conventional pap smear in the detection of colposcopic biopsy proved CIN

Introduction: Cervical cancer, the leading malignancy among Indian women is preventable and curable if detected at an early stage using proper screening tools. We conducted a study to assess the role of visual inspection with acetic acid as an alternative to pap smear and in screening program for cervical cancer in low resource settings. Methods: Two hundred and twenty five women in reproductive age group attending the Gynecology department at K.S Hegde Charitable Hospital were enrolled in the study. A Papanicolaou smear and visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid was done. All women then underwent colposcopy using the videocolposcope. All patients who tested positive on screening then underwent colposcopy guided biopsy. Pap smear of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and above was taken as abnormal. The statistical test used was chi square test and results were computed using SPSS version 12.0. Results: Out of 225 patients, VIA was positive in 27(12%) patients and pap smear was abnormal in 26(11.7%). There were 15 LSIL, 6 high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and 5 were squamous cell carcinoma. On biopsy, there were 15 mild dysplasia, 2 moderate dysplasia, 4 severe dysplasia and 3 squamous cancers. Pap smear had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 98%, positive predictive value of 80 % and negative predictive value of 97.9%. VIA had a sensitivity of 70.8%, specificity of 95%, and positive predictive value of 62.9 % and negative predictive value of 96.5%. Conclusion : Since diagnostic values of VIA is comparable to pap smear, and it performs well in detecting high grade lesion we conclude that VIA can be used as a screening modality for cervical cancer in low resource settings. Keywords: visual inspection with acetic acid; pap smear- colposcopy; cervical cancer; low resource settings DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v9i3.5579 HR 2011; 9(3): 134-139

Early detection of cervical intraepithelial lesions by simple visual inspection after acetic acid among women in Rajshahi medical college hospital

Aim: To evaluate the performance of visual inspection of acetic acid (VIA) in the detection of precancerous and early cancerous lesions of cervix. Materials and methods: Total 5593 eligible women who randomly came to the Gyenae out patient department (OPD) of RMCH (Rajshahi Medical College Hospital) were examined by VIA. Detection of well defined, opaque, acetowhite lesions close to the squamocolumner junction or in transitional zone or dense acetowhitening of ulceroproliferative growth on the cervix constituted a positive VIA. Those who had abnormal results in screening test & those who had clinically suspicious lesions were sent for colposcopic evaluation (n= 442) & directed biopsy were taken from colposcopically suspected areas (n=214). The final diagnosis was based on histology. Results: Out of 5593 patients, 442 (7.20%) were VIA positive. 442 patients were colposcopically evaluated .Among them, 228 (51.58%) were normal and 202(45.70%) had different stages of cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN) and 12 ( 2.71 % ) had carcinoma of cervix. Out of 214 patients biopsied, 23.36 % patients had a final diagnosis of CIN lesions, 5 (2.33%) had carcinoma in-situ & 17 cases (7.94%) had invasive carcinoma. Besides to find out the predictable factors of cervical lesions data have been collected from VIA positive patients regarding age of first coitus and first delivery, history of extra marital exposure and STI, use of contraceptive methods and family history of cancer. Age of first coitus between 12 to 15 years and 16 to 20 years were observed among 203 (46 %) and 40 % (177) women respectively. More than half of the patients (62%) were experienced with their first delivery within the age 15-20 years which was below 15 years of 12 % (53) patients. Fifty four percent patients used OCP and barrier methods used were only 10 %. Family history of cancer was observed among 09 % women. 58% patients were belonged to lower middle class and upper group were only 9% (table 1) Conclusion: In our study detection of different grades of intraepithelial lesions (CIN-I, CIN-II, CIN-III, invasive carcinoma) of cervix by VIA was comparable to that of colposcopy. So VIA is suitable for detection of precursor lesions of cervical cancer in low resource settings and also for diagnosis, follow up treatment and epidemiological studies of cervical cancer. Key words: Visual inspection; VIA; cervical carcinoma; colposcopy; screening; epidemiological studies. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v10i4.9494 BJMS 2011; 10 (4): 240-244