Rates Of Invasive Cervical Cancer Research Articles

U.S. Women with Invasive Cervical Cancer: Characteristics and Potential Barriers to Prevention.

Objectives: Although invasive cervical cancer (ICC) rates have declined since the advent of screening, the annual age-adjusted ICC rate in the United States remains 7.5 per 100,000 women. Failure of recommended screening and management often precedes ICC diagnoses. The study aimed to evaluate characteristics of women with incident ICC, including potential barriers to accessing preventive care. Materials and Methods: We abstracted medical records for patients with ICC identified during 2008-2020 in five U.S. population-based surveillance sites covering 1.5 million women. We identified evidence of adverse social and medical conditions, including uninsured/underinsured, language barrier, substance use disorder, incarceration, serious mental illness, severe obesity, or pregnancy at diagnosis. We calculated descriptive frequencies and compared potential barriers by race/ethnicity, and among women with and without symptoms at diagnosis using chi-square tests. Results: Among 1,606 women with ICC (median age: 49 years; non-White: 47.4%; stage I: 54.7%), the majority (68.8%) presented with symptoms. Forty-six percent of women had at least one identified potential barrier; 15% had multiple barriers. The most common potential barriers among all women were being underinsured/uninsured (17.3%), and language (17.1%). Presence of any potential barrier was more frequent among non-White women and women with than without symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this population-based descriptive study of women with ICC, we identified adverse circumstances that might have prevented women from seeking screening and treatment to prevent cancer. Interventions to increase appropriate cervical cancer screening and management are critical for reducing cervical cancer rates.

Long-term follow-up of cervical cancer incidence after normal cytological findings.

An increase in cervical cancer incidence in Sweden from 2014 to 2015 has been attributed to an increase in false-negative cytological findings before cancer diagnoses. Years later, we performed a long-term follow-up to investigate whether the problem persisted. At each calendar year from 2016 to 2020, we identified women with prior normal cervical screening results through linkage to the Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry. We reported their incidence rates (IRs) of invasive cervical cancer in consecutive years and compared the IRs over time. For the years 2016 to 2020, there was no overall change in cervical cancer incidence after two normal cytology in the last two screening intervals. However, there was a further 62% increase among women 50 to 60 years of age with normal cytology in the past two screening intervals. The incidence rate of cervical cancer was high among nonscreened women and low among HPV-screened women with negative results, with no trends over time. Our results imply that the previously reported decrease in sensitivity of cervical cytology is persisting. Although primary cytology screening is no longer used, cytology is used in triaging among HPV-positive women. Our findings suggest that improved triaging is needed, for example, improved quality assurance and/or use of alternative triage tests.

Incidence and mortality from breast and cervical cancer in a Brazilian town.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES To analyze the magnitude of changes in the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer (CC) and breast cancer (BC) in Campinas, São Paulo State, between the five-year periods of 1991–1995 and 2010–2014.METHODS data on cancer were obtained from the Campinas Population-Based Cancer Registry and data on deaths from the Mortality Information System of the Computing Department of the Unified Health System. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated by the direct method, with the respective 95% confidence intervals. The magnitude of the changes was measured by the rate ratio (rate ratio; 95%CI).RESULTS among the periods studied, there was a threefold increase in the detection rate of in situ CC (3.03; 95%CI: 2.64–3.47) and fivefold increase for in situ BC (5.23; 95%CI: 4.98–5.50). The proportion of cases of in situ BC in relation to the total number of cases of BC increased from 3.31% to 11.05%. The incidence rate of invasive CC decreased by 57% (0.43; 95%CI: 0.40–0.47), and the incidence rate of invasive BC increased by 40% (1.40; 95%CI: 1.33–1.47). The mortality rate of the CC decreased by 58% (0.42; 95%CI: 0.32–0.56), and that of BC by 15% (0.85; 95%CI: 0.82–0.89).CONCLUSION the incidence of in situ carcinomas of CC and BC increased in almost two decades. The rate of invasive carcinoma of CC decreased, and that of BC increased. Mortality from both cancers decreased. Observing these changes is useful for assessing the impact of the actions carried out in the period and for planning future actions.

Analysis of the reported data of National Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Rural Areas in China from 2009 to 2018

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Rural Areas (NCCSPRA) in China. Methods: Data were collected in the form of quarterly statistical tables reported by NCCSPRA counties in 30 provinces (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan province of China were not included into the NCCSPRA, and Tibet Autonomous Region carried out the program but did not reported the data) from 2009 to 2018. The women aged 35-64 years with sexual behavior and the identity (Hukou) of rural area in these project counties were included into the NCCSPRA, and women receiving hysterectomy for non-cervical cancer or non-cervical lesions were excluded. The following indicators were analyzed: the positive rates of different screening methods, the abnormality rates of colposcopy and histopathology, the detection rate of precancerous lesions, the detection rate of cervical cancer and the rate of early diagnosis. Results: A total of 85 041 490 women aged 35-64 in rural areas received free cervical cancer screening and diagnosis if necessary. On the whole, the abnormality rate of cytology, HPV testing, VIA/VILI, colposcopy and histopathology was 3.71%(2 567 610), 9.91%(331 158), 10.10%(1 167 930), 28.85%(1 420 847), and 21.20%(303 068) respectively. The detection rate of cervical precancerous lesions was 153.88/100 000, and increased from 106.85/100 000 in 2012 to 223.89/100 000 in 2018 (P<0.001). Regionally, the east (207.37/100 000) reached higher rate than the middle (177.65/100 000), and the middle higher than the west (108.65/100 000) (P<0.001). The detection rate of invasive cervical cancer was 21.58/100 000, and increased from 18.02/100 000 in 2012 to 26.54/100 000 in 2018 (P<0.001). Regionally, the middle of China (25.46/100 000) reached the higher rate than the east (19.62/100 000) and the west (19.30/100 000) (P<0.001). The rate of early detection was 91.24%(136 140), which increased from 89.60% (11 883)in 2012 to 92.80%(26 962) in 2018 (P<0.001). Regionally, the east of China (94.02%, 37 600) reached the higher rate than the middle(91.06%, 56 488), and the middle higher than the west (89.12%, 42 052) (P<0.001). Conclusions: There are obvious difference in terms of the detection rate of cervical precancerous lesions and the rate of early diagnosis reflecting cervical cancer screening capacity among the eastern, middle and western regions,which showed service inequity among different areas indirectly. The middle and western regions, especially the western regions, are still the focus of future works.

Cervical cancer incidence stratified by age in women with HIV compared with the general population in the United States, 2002-2016.

Recommendations for the age of initiating screening for cervical cancer in women with HIV (WWH) in the United States have not changed since 1995 when all women (regardless of immune status) were screened for cervical cancer from the age of onset of sexual activity, which often occurs in adolescence. By 2009, recognizing the lack of benefit as well as harms in screening young women, guidelines were revised to initiate cervical cancer screening for the general population at age 21 years. By comparing cervical cancer incidence in young WWH to that of the general population, we assessed the potential for increasing the recommended age of initiating cervical cancer screening in WWH. We compared age-specific invasive cervical cancer (ICC) rates among WWH to the general population in the United States HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study. We estimated standardized incidence ratios as the observed number of cervical cancer cases among WWH divided by the expected number, standardized to the general population by age, race/ethnicity, registry, and calendar year. ICC rates among WWH were elevated across all age groups between ages 25 and 54 years (SIR = 3.80; 95% CI 3.48--4.15) but there were zero cases among ages less than 25 years. The absence of ICC among WWH less than 25 years supports initiating cervical cancer screening at age 21 years, rather than adolescence, to prevent cancers in WWH at ages with higher risk of ICC.

Cervical Screening Practices and Outcomes for Young Women in Response to Changed Guidelines in Calgary, Canada, 2007-2016.

The aim of the study was to describe temporal trends in screening and outcomes for women, after changes in guidelines in Alberta, Canada, that raised starting age to 21 years, then to 25 years of age, and reduced frequency to 3 yearly. Calgary Laboratory Information System data were used to examine screening rates, follow-up procedures, and cancer among women 10-29 years from 2007 to 2016 in the whole population of Calgary. Interrupted time-series analyses were used to assess changes in screening and subsequent diagnostic procedures over the 10-year period. Annual screening rates dropped by approximately 10% at all ages older than 15 years after the 2009 Alberta cervical cancer screening guidelines, followed by a steady decrease. Further change continued subsequent to minimal apparent effect of the 2013 Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care guidelines. The rates of abnormal test results decreased in concert with decreased screening. No increases in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3, or invasive cervical cancer rates were observed after reduced testing. The largest decrease in screening and follow-up procedures occurred in the period immediately after implementation of 2009 Alberta screening guidelines. The number of consequent procedures also decreased in proportion to decreased screening, but there was no increase in cancer rates. Starting screening at the age of 25 years and reducing intervals seem to be safe.

Is cervical cytology testing as a part of co-test unnecessary for HPV 16/18-infected women? A retrospective cohort study of 1647 women.

We aimed to present the biopsy results of women with HPV 16/18 infection and investigate whether cytology is necessary as a part of routine cervical cancer screening in women with HPV 16/18. This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on 1647 patients between the ages of 30 and 65 years with HPV 16/18 undergoing colposcopy-guided biopsy at a tertiary gynecological cancer center between January-2016 and January-2019. We compared the preinvasive lesion rates and the invasive cervical cancer rates of women with HPV 16/18 between the negative and the abnormal cytology group. Of the 1647 women, 1105 (67.1%) had negative cytology and 542 (32.9%) had abnormal cytology. Among women with initial negative cytology, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ lesion was detected in 205 (18.6%) women. The rate of CIN 2+ lesion in women with abnormal cytology was 28%. There was a significant difference between negative and abnormal cytology group in terms of CIN 2+ lesion rates (P < .001). Among women with initial negative cytology, invasive cervical cancer was detected in 6 (0.5%) women. The rate of invasive cervical cancer in women with abnormal cytology was 8 (1.5%). There was no significant difference between negative and abnormal cytology group in terms of invasive cervical cancer rates (P = .082). The rate of cervical cancer among HPV 16/18-infected women with negative cytology is similar to women with abnormal cytology. Based on the results of this study, Pap testing could be unnecessary in HPV 16/18-infected women to diagnose invasive cervical cancer who will undergo colposcopy biopsy.

Increase of cervical cancer incidence in Sweden in relation to screening history: population cohort study

Background: Cervical cancer incidence in Sweden decreased from 24/100,000 in 1965 to 8/100,000 in 2011, but has from 2014 increased to 11/100,000. The increase appears to correlate to screening history. We perform a study of the cancer risk change in relation to screening history over two screening rounds to verify the correlation.Material and methods: We studied the cohorts of all 3,047,850 individual women living in Sweden in each year from 2002–2015. Registry linkages between the Total Population Register, the Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry, the Swedish Cervical Cancer Audit database and the National Quality Register for Gynecological Cancer, defined the incidence rates of invasive cervical cancer comparing time periods 2002–2013 to 2014–2015, in women whose screening history in 2 screening intervals prior to each year were either (i) adequately screened with normal results (almost exclusively cytology, 52% of the population) or (ii) unscreened (13% of the population). We also investigated the incidence increase by time since a normal smear performed in 2002–2012.Results: Among women adequately screened with normal results there was a strong incidence increase in 2014–2015 compared to previous years (Incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.36–1.85), but no significant increase among unscreened women (IRR = 1.09, 95%CI = 0.94–1.27). There was no increase in incidence 0–2.5 years after a normal smear over the study period (IRR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.88–1.24), but a strong increase 3–4 years after a normal smear since year 2009 (IRR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.25–1.84).Conclusion: The results suggest that the overall increase is associated with an increased cancer risk in women adequately screened with normal cytological results. Possibly, precursor lesions missed in one screening round might result in detection of early stage invasive cancer in the subsequent screening.

Invasive cervical cancer in HIV-infected women: risk and survival relative to those of the general population in France. Results from the French Hospital Database on HIV (FHDH)-Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS) CO4 cohort study.

We examined trends in the incidence rates of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) and in the rate of survival after ICC among women living with HIV (WLHIV) in France and compared them to those of the general population. Histologically validated incident cases of ICC in the period 1992-2009 from the French Hospital Database on HIV (FHDH-ANRS CO4) were included in the study. Age-standardized incidence rates were estimated for FHDH and the general population in France for 1992-1996 [pre-combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) period], 1997-2000 (early cART period), 2001-2004 (intermediate cART period), and 2005-2009 (late cART period). Age-standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated. Five-year survival was compared with that of the general population for ICC diagnosed in 2005-2009 after standardization for age. Among 28977 WLHIV, 60 incident ICCs were histologically validated. There was a nonsignificant decreasing trend for the incidence across the cART periods (P=0.07), from 60 to 36/100000 person-years. The risk of ICC was consistently significantly higher in WLHIV than in the general population; the SIR was 5.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0-8.9] during the pre-cART period and 3.3 (95% CI 2.2-4.7) in 2005-2009. Survival after ICC did not improve across periods (log-rank P=0.14), with overall estimated 5-year survival of 78% (95% CI 0.67-0.89%). Five-year survival was similar for WLHIV and the general population for women diagnosed with ICC in 2005-2009, after standardization (P=0.45). ICC risk is still more than three times higher in WLHIV than in the general population. Survival after ICC did not improve over time and was similar to that of the general population during the most recent period. Such results call for promotion of the uptake of screening in WLHIV.

HPV screening, invasive cervical cancer and screening policy in Australia

The new cervical screening policy in Australia replaces 2-yearly cytology with 5-yearly human papillomavirus (HPV) screening. However, 2 of 5 randomized trials that have reported the number of women with cervical cancer found the incidence rate of invasive cervical cancer during follow-up to be higher for HPV compared with cytology screening. Therefore, we have estimated the possible impact of the new policy on cervical cancer incidence in Australia. Available estimates of the relative protection from cytology screening, estimates of the coverage of the 2-yearly cytology screening policy of the Australian national cervical screening program, and estimates of screening test sensitivity were used to estimate the change in the incidence of cervical cancer from the introduction of the new policy. HPV screening 5-yearly was predicted to increase the annual incidence of cervical cancer in women screened to 121% (95% CI: 73%-169%) of current incidence after 10 years. The overall incidence of cervical cancer in Australia was predicted to increase by 39.2% (95% CI: 34.0%-44.4%) with an additional 222 women developing cervical cancer each year after 10 years. Measures of the screening sensitivity of HPV testing and cervical cytology suggest the introduction of 5-yearly HPV primary screening may increase the incidence cervical cancer in Australia.

A spatiotemporal analysis of invasive cervical cancer incidence in the state of Maryland between 2003 and 2012.

Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) rates have tremendously declined in the United States, yet new cases consistently occur in Maryland and throughout the United States. We hypothesized that although rates have generally declined, this decline is uneven across counties and over time. Space-time cluster detection analysis was conducted to evaluate clusters of ICC incidence at the county level within Maryland between 2003 and 2012. The most likely cluster was a cluster of low incidence, which included 6 counties in eastern Maryland for the period 2009-2012. A secondary cluster of low rates, comprising 2 metropolitan counties in northern Maryland, was observed for the period 2009-2012. Two of the three clusters of high ICC rates occurred in 2009-2012 in the large metropolitan area of Baltimore City and another cluster in Frederick County, in rural western Maryland. The third cluster of high rates was observed 2005-2008, in western Maryland. In recent periods, some Maryland counties have experienced anomalously high or low ICC incidence. Clusters of high incidence are not explained by differences in screening rates and may be due to failures in follow-up care for cervical abnormalities that need to be investigated. Clusters of low incidence may represent areas of successful ICC control.

Projected future impact of HPV vaccination and primary HPV screening on cervical cancer rates from 2017–2035: Example from Australia

BackgroundMany countries are transitioning from cytology-based to longer-interval HPV screening. Trials comparing HPV-based screening to cytology report an increase in CIN2/3 detection at the first screen, and longer-term reductions in CIN3+; however, population level year-to-year transitional impacts are poorly understood. We undertook a comprehensive evaluation of switching to longer-interval primary HPV screening in the context of HPV vaccination. We used Australia as an example setting, since Australia will make this transition in December 2017.MethodsUsing a model of HPV vaccination, transmission, natural history and cervical screening, Policy1-Cervix, we simulated the planned transition from recommending cytology every two years for sexually-active women aged 18–20 to 69, to recommending HPV screening every five years for women aged 25–74 years. We estimated rates of CIN2/3, cervical cancer incidence, and mortality for each year from 2005 to 2035, considering ranges for HPV test accuracy and screening compliance in the context of HPV vaccination (current coverage ~82% in females; ~76% in males).FindingsTransient increases are predicted to occur in rates of CIN2/3 detection and invasive cervical cancer in the first two to three years following the screening transition (of 16–24% and 11–14% in respectively, compared to 2017 rates). However, by 2035, CIN2/3 and invasive cervical cancer rates are predicted to fall by 40–44% and 42–51%, respectively, compared to 2017 rates. Cervical cancer mortality rates are predicted to remain unchanged until ~2020, then decline by 34–45% by 2035. Over the period 2018–2035, switching to primary HPV screening in Australia is expected to avert 2,006 cases of invasive cervical cancer and save 587 lives.ConclusionsTransient increases in detected CIN2/3 and invasive cancer, which may be detectable at the population level, are predicted following a change to primary HPV screening. This is due to improved test sensitivity bringing forward diagnoses, resulting in longer term reductions in both cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Fluctuations in health outcomes due to the transition to a longer screening interval are predicted to occur for 10–15 years, but cervical cancer rates will be significantly reduced thereafter due to the impact of HPV vaccination and HPV screening. In order to maintain confidence in primary HPV screening through the transitional phase, it is important to widely communicate that an initial increase in CIN2/3 and perhaps even invasive cervical cancer is expected after a national transition to primary HPV screening, that this phenomenon is due to increased prevalent disease detection, and that this effect represents a marker of screening success.

Psychosocial Correlates of Ever Having a Pap Test and Abnormal Pap Results in a Sample of Rural Appalachian Women.

Despite known prevention and screening efforts, there are higher invasive cervical cancer rates in Appalachia than in other areas of the United States and higher mortality rates in the Appalachian region of Kentucky compared to Appalachian regions of other states. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the association of psychosocial factors relevant to cervical cancer and the outcome of ever having a Pap test in a rural sample of women. The secondary purpose was to determine whether any of the same psychosocial factors were also associated with ever having an abnormal Pap test result among women with a self-reported history of having one or more Pap tests in their lifetime. Data were collected in fall of 2013 from 393 women in 8 economically distressed counties of rural Appalachian Kentucky. Women completed an interviewer-administered survey assessing sociodemographic and health information as well as beliefs about cervical cancer. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that low income and greater perceived local fatalism were significant predictors of never having a Pap test. Lack of personal control over prevention, and peer and family influences were significant predictors of ever having an abnormal Pap test result. Educational efforts targeted in rural Appalachia would be supported by encouraging the benefits of early and consistent screening, altering the established norms of community fatalism and lack of personal control over prevention, and creating targeted messages through public campaigns that convince rural Appalachian women that cervical cancer is highly preventable and screenable.

Using Community Engagement to Develop a Web-Based Intervention for Latinos about the HPV Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is pervasive among sexually active women and men, and Hispanic women are at particularly high risk as they have higher rates of invasive cervical cancer compared to other racial or ethnic groups in the United States. There is a need for interventions to increase HPV vaccination among this high-risk population. This study investigated how to modify a previously developed web-based intervention that provided individually tailored information about HPV to improve its use among the Latino population. A community-oriented modification approach incorporated feedback from a community advisory committee, and focus groups among the Latino population, to modify the intervention. Several themes emerged including a need for basic information about HPV and HPV vaccination, changes to make the intervention appear less clinical, and incorporation of information addressing barriers specific to the Latino community. This work was done in preparation for a randomized trial to assess the impact of this modified intervention on HPV vaccination attitudes and uptake among Latino young adults and parents of adolescents. If effective, our intervention could be a resource for reducing HPV vaccination concerns, improving immunization rates, and educating Latinos about HPV and the HPV vaccine outside of the time boundaries of the traditional clinical encounter.

Challenges and Progress of Policies on Cervical Cancer in South Africa

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in South African women but the most frequently encountered cancer in black women. In 2000, the South African Department of Health launched a national cervical screening program. However, this has not been fully implemented because of the chronic shortage of health care workers and a lack of essential medical equipment. In addition, there is also a high burden of infectious diseases in this country. South Africa has the largest expanding HIV burden in the world and it is estimated that 6.3 million people in South Africa were living with HIV in 2013, representing 18% of all people living with HIV worldwide. The high prevalence of HIV complicates the situation as HIV-infected women have greater rates of pre-invasive and invasive cervical cancer rates. In April 2011 the South African government launched the HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) campaign, a new national drive to encourage people to know their HIV status and access counseling and treatment, including cervical screening. A universal test and treat (UTT) strategy was adopted in September 2016 after research showed that this type of program will reduce the chance of HIV transmission. The South African National Department of Health will soon announce and implement a new cervical cancer control policy. Over the past few years, the South African Department of Health has introduced several new policies regarding HIV testing and care, and plans to introduce a new cervical screening policy shortly. This overview discusses the progress as well as challenges the South African department of health has with the various programs.

Analysis of the reported data of national rural cervical cancer screening project from 2012 to 2013, China

To analyze the reported data of national rural cervical cancer screening project from 2012 to 2013 and to evaluate the project implementation condition. Data of the national breast carcinoma and cervical cancer (two-cancer) screening project for rural women were collected from the online report system of key women and children's public health service programs.The screening items included: preliminary screening of cervical lesions (cervical cytology, using Traian Bethesda System(TBS) or Pap grading for classification and reporting), acetate/iodide staining (VIA/VILI), colposcopy, histopathological examination, and pathological diagnosis. The study collected the quarterly reported data from 1 183 counties of 30 provinces in 2014 and 1 130 counties of 30 provinces in 2013. Chi-square test was used to test the difference of positive detection rate, as well as precancerous cervical lesions, and cervical cancer detection rates among difference preliminary screening methods in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 and 2013, the number of cervical cancer screening was 10 621 482 and 10 321 835. The percentage of using ThinPrep cytological test as the screening method was 77.17% (n=8 196 627) and 77.07% (n=7 954 949) in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Among these ThinPrep cytological tests in these two years, 65.49% (n=5 368 194) and 71.67% (n=5 701 033) used TBS report system. The abnormality rate of colposcopy increased from 27.29% (170 063/623 161) to 31.15% (203 397/652 935) (χ(2)=2 295.94,P<0.001). The abnormality rate of histopathology test increased from 19.54% (37 992/194 394) to 35.43% (59 004/166 518) (χ(2)=11 523.58, P<0.001). All together, 27 341 cervical cancer or precancerous lesions have been detected in these two years. The detection rate of invasive cervical cancer increased from 18.02/100 000 in 2012 to 19.71/100 000 (χ(2)=7.90,P=0.005) in 2013 and that of precancerous lesions rose from 106.85/100 000 to 119.26/100 000 (χ(2)=70.82,P<0.001). The early detection rate was 89.60% (11 883/13 263), and 89.57% (12 609/14 078), respectively in 2012 and 2013. In these two years, the rank of the detection rate of each cervical lesion were CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, invasive carcinoma, adenocarcinoma in situ, and microinvasive carcinoma, from the highest rate to the lowest rate. The program has achieved certain screening effect and the screening method has been improved. However, the quality of colposcope and histopathology should be enhanced.

Risk of invasive cervical cancer after atypical glandular cells in cervical screening: nationwide cohort study

Objectives To investigate the risks of invasive cervical cancer after detection of atypical glandular cells (AGC) during cervical screening. Design Nationwide population based cohort study. Setting Cancer and population registries...

A Review of Cervical Cancer in South Africa: Previous, Current and Future

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in South African women. Opportunistic screening for cervical cancer has been available for the last five decades. In 2000, the South African Department of Health launched a national cervical screening programme. However, this has not been fully implemented. South Africa has the largest expanding HIV burden in the world and it is estimated that 5.7 million South Africans are currently living with HIV/AIDS, of whom 60% are women. The high prevalence of HIV complicates the situation as HIV-infected women have greater rates of pre-invasive and invasive cervical cancer rates whereas HPV infection promotes the acquisition of HIV. In April 2011 the South African government launched the HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) campaign, a new national drive to encourage people to know their HIV status and access counseling and treatment including cervical screening. In April 2014 the South African National Department of Health implemented a school-based HPV vaccination program for all girls 9 years and older, in grade 4. The rollout targeted 450 000 girls in 17 000 public schools. However, the reduction of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions due to HPV vaccination will only be realized in the coming decades. Thus screening for, and management of both pre-invasive and invasive cervical cancer needs to be enhanced. The South African National Department of Health will soon announce and implement a new cervical cancer control policy. This review discusses the history of cervical cancer in South Africa, current prevention strategies and suggestions for an improved cervical screening programme.

Diagnosis and Management of Precancerous Cervical Lesions

Over the past five decades, the Pap smear for cervical cancer screening has become standard of care across the United States and other countries, and its implementation in the routine gynecologic examination has dramatically reduced the rates of invasive cervical cancer. As we have come to understand the nuances of this routine screening and are increasingly better able to identify precancerous cervical lesions, we have also developed improved screening and treatment modalities. This progress has led to ever-changing diagnostic and management guidelines. Over the last several years, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) has revised its guidelines for cervical cancer screening and issued new recommendations for treatment and management of cervical dysplasia. In addition, investigators across the world are exploring improved methods of screening, treatment, and identification of precancerous cervical lesions. Such methods include optimizing HPV testing, genotyping HPV and identifying associations with cervical dysplasia, and optimizing the timing and efficacy of treatment. This article will review and critically evaluate the literature published within the past year with regard to the diagnosis and management of precancerous cervical lesions.

High‐grade cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer in women following a negative Pap smear with and without an endocervical component: A cohort study with 10 years of follow‐up

The proportion of Pap smears containing an endocervical component (ECC) has been declining in Australia. Given that ECC negative (ECC-) smears may be associated with reduced sensitivity, we undertook a retrospective cohort study to estimate rates of histologically confirmed high-grade cervical abnormality (HGA) and cancer in women with negative Pap smears with and without an ECC. Women 18-69 years with at least two Pap smears between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2010 with the first smear in that period (index smear) showing no abnormality were eligible. Follow-up ended at date of the first abnormal smear, date of histological diagnosis, date of hysterectomy, date of death, or 31 December 2010, whichever came first. ECC status was treated as a time varying exposure. Follow-up was split at each smear after the index smear. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRR) by ECC status. The incidence rate of histologically confirmed HGA was significantly lower following ECC- smears than after ECC+ smears (adjusted IRR: 0.69, 95%Confidence Interval (CI) 0.62-0.77), particularly at older ages (interaction between ECC status and age, p = 0.001). In contrast, the overall rate of invasive cancer was not significantly different after ECC- than after ECC+ smears (IRR: 1.27, 95%CI 0.90-1.77). In conclusion, women had a lower rate of confirmed HGA and no significant increase in the rate of invasive cervical cancer following ECC- smears. This study does not support differential (accelerated) follow-up in women with a negative smear without an endocervical component.