American cancer society guideline for the early detection of cervical neoplasia and cancer

Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Health Professionals in Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Early screening for cervical cancer is a key life-saving intervention in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite the high burden of cervical cancer, the coverage of cervical cancer screening is low in developing countries, including Ethiopia. There is a paucity of information on the utilization of cervical cancer screening among female health professionals in eastern Ethiopia. This study aimedto assess the determinants of cervical cancer screening among female health professionals in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia.

Method

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 232 female health professionals in Harar town from September 01 to 30, 2022. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify significant factors for the level of cervical cancer screening. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to report the strength of association and statistical significance declared at p value < 0.05.

Results

The prevalence of cervical cancer screening among female health professionals was 16.8% (95% CI: 11%, 22%). Higher education level (AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 1.68, 10.90), use of contraceptives (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.17, 6.23), training on cervical cancer screening (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.05, 6.08), good knowledge about cervical cancer screening (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.44, 7.91), and positive attitude toward cervical cancer screening (AOR = 5.31, 95% CI: 2.04, 13.83) were independent factors that increased the utilization of cervical cancer screening.

Conclusion

One in every six female health professionals was screened for cervical cancer. Education level, contraceptive use, cervical cancer screening training, cervical cancer screening knowledge, and attitude toward cervical cancer screening were the determinants of cervical cancer screening utilization among female health professionals. Improving the health professionals' knowledge and attitude toward cervical cancer screening through upgrading their education level and training on cervical cancer screening would be essential to improving the level of cervical cancer screening.

Changes over time in papanicolaou cytology test and HPV test in a large women's academic center laboratory

INTRODUCTION

In the past 2 decades, cervical cancer screening guidelines in the United States have undergone numerous revisions with recent greater emphasis on primary high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examine the trends of Papanicolaou test and hrHPV testing at our large academic center across 4 years (2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021) over a 15-year period. The number of ThinPrep Papanicolaou and hrHPV tests, as well as the triggers for HPV testing, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 308,355 Papanicolaou tests and 117,477 hrHPV tests were reported across the 4 years. The number of Papanicolaou tests performed decreased nearly 3-fold over the study period, with only 43,230 Papanicolaou tests performed in 2021. The HPV test to Papanicolaou test ratio increased: 17% of Papanicolaou tests had an associated HPV test in 2006, whereas 72% of Papanicolaou tests ordered in 2021 had a companion hrHPV. The use of co-testing also increased. Overall, 73% were co-tests and 27% were reflexively ordered in the 4 one-year time periods. Co-tests constituted only 46% of HPV tests in 2006, but this increased to 93% in 2021. The percentage of positive hrHPV results decreased; in 2006, 18.3% of cases were positive, dropping to 8.6% in 2021 due to the marked increase in co-testing. Stratifying by diagnostic category, hrHPV results have remained relatively constant.

CONCLUSION

With the numerous recent revisions of cervical screening guidelines, screening strategies at our institution reflected these changes in clinical practice. Papanicolaou and HPV co-testing became the most common screening method for women 30 to 65 years of age in our cohort.

Discriminating different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia based on label-free phasor fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

This study proposed label-free fluorescence lifetime imaging and phasor analysis methods to discriminate different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The human cervical tissue lesions associated with cellular metabolic abnormalities were detected by the status changes of important coenzymes in cells and tissues, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) was used to study human cervical tissues, human cervical epithelial cells, and standard samples. Phasor analysis was applied to reveal the interrelation between the metabolic changes and cancer development, which can distinguish among different stages of cervical lesions from low risk to high risk. This approach also possessed high sensitivity, especially for healthy sites of CIN3 tissues, and indicated the dominance of the glycolytic pathway over oxidative phosphorylation in high-grade cervical lesions. This highly adaptive, sensitive, and rapid diagnostic tool exhibits a great potential for cervical precancer diagnosis.

Cervical cancer incidence after screening with HPV, cytology, and visual methods: 18-Year follow-up of the Guanacaste cohort

Testing negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) predicts long-term reassurance against invasive cervical cancer (ICC). To provide realistic estimates of effectiveness for new screening programs, we studied ICC risk after a 7-year repeated multimethod screening effort. In 1993-1994, 10,049 women aged 18-97 years were enrolled into a population-based cohort study of cervical HPV in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Women were screened at different intervals according to enrollment results. Each visit (mean 3.2, 90% attendance) included split-sample conventional, automated, and liquid-based cytology, visual inspection, cervicography, and PCR-based HPV testing. Abnormal screening led to colposcopy and excisional treatment as appropriate during the study. Referral to colposcopy for HPV in the absence of other findings was introduced only at the last visit. Population-based Costa Rica Cancer Registry linkage identified cohort women diagnosed with ICC in the 18 years following cohort enrollment. The ICC cumulative risk was 0.4% (n = 38); 18 were diagnosed with ICC after study participation. Of these, 9 were missed at the screening step (negative screening or below the referral threshold, refused screening or colposcopy), 5 attended colposcopy but were not diagnosed as CIN2+, and 4 were treated for CIN2/3 but progressed to ICC nonetheless. Decreasing age-standardized ICC rates for the 1993-2011 period were observed in Guanacaste; cohort women showed additional 31% ICC incidence reduction with apparent downstaging of cancers that occurred. ICC risk following negative HPV testing in the optimal age range 30-50 years was extremely low. Real-life screening effectiveness following introduction is lower than the potential near-complete efficacy predicted by HPV natural history.

Adherence to the 2012 national cervical cancer screening guidelines: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate adherence to the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines among health care providers in a large health maintenance organization.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey evaluating knowledge, reported practices, and views of the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines was distributed to 325 health care providers within HealthPartners. The survey was divided into 3 sections: (1) provider demographics; (2) knowledge of the 2012 age-specific cancer screening guidelines; and (3) provider practice. Comparisons based on appropriate knowledge and practice of the guidelines were made using Fisher exact tests.

RESULTS

The response rate was 42%. Of 124 respondents, 15 (12.1%) reported they were not aware of the 2012 guideline changes. Only 7 (5.7%) respondents answered all the knowledge questions correctly. A majority of respondents reported correct screening practices in the 21-29 year patient age group (65.8%) and in the >65 year patient age group (74.3%). Correct screening intervals in the 30-65 year patient age group varied by modality, with 89.3% correctly screening every 3 years with Pap smear alone, but only 57.4% correctly screening every 5 years with Pap smear + human papillomavirus cotesting. The most frequently cited reasons for not adhering were lack of knowledge of the guidelines and patient demand for a different screening interval.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines is poor due, in part, to a lack of knowledge of the guidelines. Efforts should focus on improved provider and patient education, and methods that facilitate adherence to the guidelines such as electronic health record order sets.

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of epithelial tissue with a smart fiber-optic probe

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) with a fiber-optic probe can noninvasively quantify the optical properties of epithelial tissues and has shown the potential as a cost-effective, fast and sensitive tool for diagnosis of early precancerous changes in the cervix and oral cavity. However, current DRS systems are susceptible to several sources of systematic and random errors, such as uncontrolled probe-to-tissue pressure and lack of a real-time calibration that can significantly impair the measurement accuracy, reliability and validity of this technology as well as its clinical utility. In addition, such systems use bulky, high power and expensive optical components which impede their widespread use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where epithelial cancer related death is disproportionately high. In this paper we report a portable, easy-to-use and low cost, yet accurate and reliable DRS device that can aid in the screening and diagnosis of oral and cervical cancer. The device uses an innovative smart fiber-optic probe to eliminate operator bias, state-of-the-art photonics components to reduce size and power consumption, and automated software to reduce the need of operator training. The device showed a mean error of 1.4 ± 0.5% and 6.8 ± 1.7% for extraction of phantom absorption and reduced scattering coefficients, respectively. A clinical study on healthy volunteers indicated that a pressure below 1.0 psi is desired for oral mucosal tissues to minimize the probe effects on tissue physiology and morphology.

Rapid determination of oxygen saturation and vascularity for cancer detection

A rapid heuristic ratiometric analysis for estimating tissue hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation from measured tissue diffuse reflectance spectra is presented. The analysis was validated in tissue-mimicking phantoms and applied to clinical measurements in head and neck, cervical and breast tissues. The analysis works in two steps. First, a linear equation that translates the ratio of the diffuse reflectance at 584 nm and 545 nm to estimate the tissue hemoglobin concentration using a Monte Carlo-based lookup table was developed. This equation is independent of tissue scattering and oxygen saturation. Second, the oxygen saturation was estimated using non-linear logistic equations that translate the ratio of the diffuse reflectance spectra at 539 nm to 545 nm into the tissue oxygen saturation. Correlations coefficients of 0.89 (0.86), 0.77 (0.71) and 0.69 (0.43) were obtained for the tissue hemoglobin concentration (oxygen saturation) values extracted using the full spectral Monte Carlo and the ratiometric analysis, for clinical measurements in head and neck, breast and cervical tissues, respectively. The ratiometric analysis was more than 4000 times faster than the inverse Monte Carlo analysis for estimating tissue hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation in simulated phantom experiments. In addition, the discriminatory power of the two analyses was similar. These results show the potential of such empirical tools to rapidly estimate tissue hemoglobin in real-time spectral imaging applications.

Invasive cervical cancer risk among HIV-infected women: a North American multicohort collaboration prospective study

OBJECTIVE

HIV infection and low CD4+ T-cell count are associated with an increased risk of persistent oncogenic human papillomavirus infection-the major risk factor for cervical cancer. Few reported prospective cohort studies have characterized the incidence of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) in HIV-infected women.

METHODS

Data were obtained from HIV-infected and -uninfected female participants in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design with no history of ICC at enrollment. Participants were followed from study entry or January 1996 through ICC, loss to follow-up, or December 2010. The relationship of HIV infection and CD4+ T-cell count with risk of ICC was assessed using age-adjusted Poisson regression models and standardized incidence ratios. All cases were confirmed by cancer registry records and/or pathology reports. Cervical cytology screening history was assessed through medical record abstraction.

RESULTS

A total of 13,690 HIV-infected and 12,021 HIV-uninfected women contributed 66,249 and 70,815 person-years of observation, respectively. Incident ICC was diagnosed in 17 HIV-infected and 4 HIV-uninfected women (incidence rate of 26 and 6 per 100,000 person-years, respectively). HIV-infected women with baseline CD4+ T-cells of ≥350, 200-349, and <200 cells per microliter had a 2.3, 3.0, and 7.7 times increase in ICC incidence, respectively, compared with HIV-uninfected women (P(trend) = 0.001). Of the 17 HIV-infected women, medical records for the 5 years before diagnosis showed that 6 had no documented screening, 5 had screening with low-grade or normal results, and 6 had high-grade results.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found elevated incidence of ICC in HIV-infected compared with -uninfected women, and these rates increased with immunosuppression.

Invasive and in situ cervical cancer reported to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS)

The quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was recommended in 2006 for routine vaccination of 11 or 12-year-old girls, with catchup through age 26 years, for the prevention of genital HPV-related diseases. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national spontaneous surveillance system of adverse events following vaccination in the United States. The objective of this study was to identify and review VAERS reports of invasive and in situ cervical cancer in women immunized with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine. A VAERS database search was performed to identify such cases reported in the United States from January 1, 2006, through April 9, 2009. Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) search terms used were "cervix carcinoma," "cervix carcinoma stage 0," "cervix carcinoma stage III," "carcinoma in situ," and "cervical dysplasia." Case inclusion required a report to contain a clear statement of a cervical carcinoma or carcinoma in situ diagnosis on any screening or diagnostic test after at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. All reports were reviewed by two investigators. Four VAERS reports for MedDRA term "cervix carcinoma," one for "cervix carcinoma stage 0," none for "cervix carcinoma stage III," three for "carcinoma in situ," and 53 for "cervical dysplasia" were identified. Of these, three cases of carcinoma in situ and one case of microinvasive cervical cancer met study inclusion criteria. Cases of cervical cancer and precancers are not unexpected in vaccinated women. Cervical cancer screening continues to be important, even for women who have received the HPV vaccine.

Cervical cancer screening among women who attend sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics: background paper for 2010 STD Treatment Guidelines

BACKGROUND

In April 2008, experts reviewed updates on sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention and treatment in preparation for the revision of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STD Treatment Guidelines. This included a review of cervical cancer screening in the STD clinical setting.

METHODS

Key questions were identified with assistance from an expert panel. Reviews of the literature were conducted using the PubMed computerized database and shared with the panel. Updated information was incorporated in the 2010 CDC STD Treatment Guidelines.

RESULTS

We recommend that STD clinics offering cervical screening services screen and treat women according to guidelines by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Cancer Society, the US Preventive Services Task Force, and the American Society for Colposcopists and Cervical Pathologists. New to the 2010 guidelines are higher age for initiating cervical screening (age ≥ 21 years) and less frequent intervals of screening (at least every 3 years). New recommendations include new technologies, such as liquid-based cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests. Liquid-based technologies are not recommended over conventional testing. HPV DNA tests are recommended as adjunct tests and with new indications for use in cervical screening and management. Stronger recommendations were issued for STD clinics offering cervical screening services to have protocols in place for follow-up of test results and referral (eg, colposcopy).

CONCLUSIONS

Important additions to the 2010 STD Treatment Guidelines include information on updated algorithms for screening and management of women and recommendations for use of liquid-based cytology and high-risk HPV testing.

Correlation of histopathologic/cytologic follow-up findings with vaginal ASC-US and ASC-H Papanicolaou test and HPV test results

Current American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology recommendations about human papillomavirus (HPV) triage and further management for atypical squamous cells are pertinent to cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. There are limited data on HPV detection in vaginal liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens. The aims of this study were to determine whether adjunctive high-risk (HR)-HPV testing is useful for disease risk assessment in women with vaginal atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) Pap results. We identified 1,125 ASC-US and 36 ASC-H vaginal Pap results with HR-HPV testing. Of the cases, 244 (21.7%) ASC-US and 21 (58%) ASC-H were HR-HPV+. Among ASC-US HR-HPV+ cases, 47.8% had a squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) compared with 4.7% of HR-HPV- cases. Among ASC-H HR-HPV+ cases, 75% (12/16) had SIL compared with 31% (4/13) in HR-HPV- cases. Our results indicate that HPV triage testing is a reasonable and cost-effective approach for women with ASC-US vaginal Pap results and also a useful option for women with ASC-H vaginal Pap results.

Correlation of Histopathologic Follow-up Findings With Vaginal Human Papillomavirus and Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Papanicolaou Test Results

Context.—Data on high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) DNA test results in vaginal, liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens and corresponding cytologic and histopathologic correlation data are limited.

Objective.—To analyze follow-up correlation data associated with vaginal (after hysterectomy) low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) LBC and hrHPV test results.

Design.—Hospital records were searched for vaginal LSIL LBC and hrHPV results between July 1, 2005, and July 30, 2009. Histopathologic and Papanicolaou test follow-up correlation data were analyzed.

Results.—During the study period, 2892 patients with test results from both posthysterectomy vaginal LBC and hrHPV were identified: 148 (5.1%) of the patients had vaginal Papanicolaou test results reported as LSIL, with hrHPV detected in 113 of the 148 patients (76.4%). Of 148 patients, 59 of those with vaginal LSIL including 48 (81.4%) with positive HPV testing and 11 (18.6%) with negative HPV testing results had a follow-up vaginal biopsy. Histopathologic vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) 2/3 was diagnosed in 7 of 59 patients (11.9%) with biopsies. In all 7 patients who were diagnosed with VAIN 2/3, hrHPV was detected in the LBC vial. No VAIN 2/3 diagnoses were documented in the biopsy specimens from the 11 patients with hrHPV− LSIL Papanicolaou test results. Histopathologic VAIN 2/3 was diagnosed from vaginal biopsies in 7 of the 48 patients (14.6%) with vaginal hrHPV+ LSIL test results.

Conclusions.—Sensitivity and specificity of hrHPV test results associated with histopathologic follow-up diagnoses of VAIN 2/3 in patients with vaginal LSIL results were 100% and 21.2%, respectively. The positive predictive value of a vaginal hrHPV+ LSIL result for a subsequent histopathologic VAIN 2/3 diagnosis was 14.6%. No cases of VAIN 2/3 were diagnosed in the 11 patients with vaginal hrHPV− LSIL results. Correlations of vaginal cytologic, histopathologic, and human papillomavirus findings were quite similar to correlation findings previously reported in older women with cervical LSIL test results.

Trends of human papillomavirus testing in cervical cancer screening at a large academic cytology laboratory

OBJECTIVE

To estimate time trends of actual provider use of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in cervical cancer screening by using laboratory and administrative data from the Johns Hopkins Hospital Division of Cytopathology in Baltimore, Maryland.

METHODS

In this ecologic trend study, we analyzed 178,510 Pap specimen records and 12,221 HPV tests among 85,048 patients from 2001 to 2007. Monthly frequencies and proportions of HPV reflex testing and HPV cotesting with Pap (stratified by patient ages 30 and older and 18-29 years) were calculated. Time trends of monthly HPV testing proportions were analyzed using joinpoint regression methods.

RESULTS

From April 2002, when the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology added HPV reflex testing to its guidelines, to December 2007, the monthly the proportion of reflex testing was 95.8%. From February 2004, when the society added HPV cotesting with Pap among women aged 30 years or older to its guidelines, to December 2007, the overall proportion HPV cotesting with Pap among patients aged 30 years or older was 7.8% (compared with 4.9% among patients 18-29 years [P<.01]). The highest proportion of HPV cotesting among women aged 30 years or older, 15%, was observed in September 2006, and the trend later plateaued around 13%. The monthly proportions of HPV reflex testing and cotesting with Pap changed significantly over time.

CONCLUSION

These data reveal that a small percentage of women aged 30 years or older received HPV cotesting with Pap, thus identifying a significant opportunity for providers to improve patient care in cervical cancer prevention.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Associations between oral HPV16 infection and cytopathology: evaluation of an oropharyngeal "pap-test equivalent" in high-risk populations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for the rising incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OSCC) in the United States, and yet, no screening strategies have been evaluated. Secondary prevention by means of HPV detection and cervical cytology has led to a decline in cervical cancer incidence in the United States. Here, we explored an analogous strategy by evaluating associations between HPV16 infection, cytopathology, and histopathology in two populations at elevated risk for OSCCs. In the first, a cross-sectional study population (PAP1), cytology specimens were collected by means of brush biopsy from patients presenting with oropharyngeal abnormalities. In the second (PAP2), a nested case-control study, bilateral tonsillar cytology samples were collected at 12-month intervals from HIV-infected individuals. The presence of cytopathologic abnormality in HPV16-positive tonsil brush biopsies (cases) was compared with HPV16-negative samples (controls) matched on age and gender. HPV16 was detected in samples by consensus primer PCR and/or type-specific PCR. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate associations. In PAP1, HPV16 alone (OR: 6.1, 95% CI: 1.6-22.7) or in combination with abnormal cytology (OR: 20, 95% CI: 4.2-95.4) was associated with OSCC. In PAP2, 4.7% (72 of 1,524) of tonsillar cytology specimens from HIV-infected individuals without oropharyngeal abnormalities were HPV16 positive. Tonsillar HPV16 infection was not associated with atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS), the only cytologic abnormality identified. Therefore, HPV16 was associated with OSCCs among individuals with accessible oropharyngeal lesions but not with cytologic evidence of dysplasia among high-risk individuals without such lesions. An oropharyngeal Pap-test equivalent may not be feasible, likely due to limitations in sampling the relevant tonsillar crypt epithelium.

The impact of HAART on HPV-related cervical disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has had an unequivocally positive impact on morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals. These benefits have clearly extended to some HIV-related malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The impact of HAART on cervical cancer, however, remains uncertain. The objective of this review is to summarize the last ten years of registry-based and clinical research into the impact of HAART on human papillomavirus (HPV) related cervical disease.

RELEVANT FINDINGS

compared to their HIV-uninfected counterparts, HIV-infected women have an increased prevalence of HPV infection, increased risk of progression of HPV-related cervical disease, and an increased risk of invasive cervical cancer. While the partial immune reconstitution afforded by HAART might be expected to decrease susceptibility to HPV infection and cervical disease, the local effects of improved immunosurveillance on the cervix are uncertain and the increased longevity of patients on HAART may increase risk of exposure to HPV and provide the time required for progression of cervical disease. Registry-based evidence has been consistent in identifying the lack of decrease in cervical cancer incidence in the HAART era. Clinical research on the subject, however, has produced conflicting evidence with regards to both the effect of HAART on HPV infection and its impact on cervical disease progression/regression.

SUMMARY

the incidence of cervical cancer has not decreased in the HAART-era. Furthermore, clinical research has not shown a clear benefit of HAART in decreasing HPV-related cervical disease in HIV-infected women. A better understanding of this subject will have an impact on cervical disease surveillance practices.

Use of mobile telemedicine for cervical cancer screening

Visual inspection of the cervix with application of 4% acetic acid (VIA) is an inexpensive alternative to cytology-based screening in areas where resources are limited, such as in many developing countries. We have examined the diagnostic agreement between off-site (remote) expert diagnosis using photographs of the cervix (photographic inspection with acetic acid, PIA) and in-person VIA. The images for remote evaluation were taken with a mobile phone and transmitted by MMS. The study population consisted of 95 HIV-positive women in Gaborone, Botswana. An expert gynaecologist made a definitive positive or negative reading on the PIA results of 64 out of the 95 women whose PIA images were also read by the nurse midwives. The remaining 31 PIA images were deemed insufficient in quality for a reading by the expert gynaecologist. The positive nurse PIA readings were concordant with the positive expert PIA readings in 82% of cases, and the negative PIA readings between the two groups were fully concordant in 89% of cases. These results suggest that mobile telemedicine may be useful to improve access of women in remote areas to cervical cancer screening utilizing the VIA 'see-and-treat' method.

US physicians' intentions regarding impact of human papillomavirus vaccine on cervical cancer screening

BACKGROUND

US cervical cancer screening recommendations have not changed since the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine introduction in 2006, but epidemiological and cost-effectiveness studies indicate that recommendations will need to change for fully vaccinated women. We evaluated physician intentions regarding HPV vaccine's impact on future screening.

METHODS

A nationally representative sample of 1212 primary care physicians was surveyed in 2006-2007 (response rate: 67.5%). Our study included 1114 physicians who provided Pap testing. Questions covered Pap test screening practices and intentions regarding HPV vaccine's impact on screening. Distribution differences were assessed using chi(2) statistics; multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 40.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 37.6-43.8%) of physicians agreed that the HPV vaccine will affect screening initiation, and 38.2% (35.0-41.5%) agreed that vaccination will affect screening frequency. Significant differences in responses were found by specialty; internists were more likely to agree that vaccination would impact screening than other specialties. Belief in the effectiveness of new screening technologies was associated with intention to change screening initiation (odds ratio (OR) = 1.66 (1.20-2.31)) and frequency (OR = 1.99 (1.40-2.83)). Adherence to current Pap test screening interval guidelines was associated with intention to change screening frequency (OR = 1.39 (1.01-1.91)).

CONCLUSIONS

Many providers anticipate adjusting screening for vaccinated women, but a significant group believes nothing will change or are unsure. The present study provides important baseline data on intentions in the period preceding widespread vaccine diffusion and may help explain current and future trends in practice patterns.

Barriers to breast cancer screening among Haitian immigrant women in Little Haiti, Miami

Previous research has not examined barriers to mammography screening among Haitian immigrant women through their own discourse. Community Health Workers conducted in-depth interviews with Haitian women in Little Haiti, Miami. We used a grounded theory approach to analyze data from the in-depth interviews. Emergent themes coalesced into three core categories of screening barriers: Structural, Psychosocial, and Socio-Cultural. We developed a model of screening barriers to depict the themes within each core category. Screening barriers must be examined and understood from the social contexts in which they are produced in order to create meaningful interventions.

Preventing cervical cancer in the Latina population

Cervical cancer causes great morbidity and mortality worldwide and in the United States. Infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), the etiological agent of almost all cervical cancer cases, is common among sexually active women in the United States. Over the past 5 decades, the implementation of Papanicolaou screening programs in the United States has led to a significant decrease in cervical cancer cases. However, notable disparities in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer and cervical screening rates among Hispanics in the United States remain. If current disparities persist without intervention, the Latina population in the United States may remain at a higher risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer. We discuss disparities in cervical cancer screening, incidence, and mortality among the Latina population, as well as the barriers that may propagate these disparities. We also address how these barriers can be overcome through the coordination of outreach programs and widespread prophylactic HPV vaccination to reduce cervical cancer disparities in Latinas.

Public health issues related to HPV vaccination

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is clearly established as the cause of cervical cancer, and vaccines targeting oncogenic forms of the virus are important as a primary method of prevention. However, barriers to cervical screening and vaccination such as a lack of knowledge of HPV, access to healthcare, and poor follow-up prevent the acceptance and utilization of HPV vaccines. Strategies for prevention of disease and implementation of vaccination are in development, but the importance of primary prevention of HPV infection needs to be stressed. This review assesses the potential impact of vaccination for cervical cancer, barriers to vaccination, and the methods used to increase coverage. With the advent of prophylactic vaccines, HPV, a common infection in the United States, can be prevented in most women.

Image-guided ThinPrep Papanicolaou tests and cotesting with high-risk human papillomavirus in women aged 30 years and older in a low-risk private practice population

BACKGROUND

Screening for cervical cancer precursors has evolved considerably with the introduction of new technologies to improve the early detection of disease. The objective of this study was to analyze the accuracy and effectiveness of combined screening with cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing in a low-risk population of women aged >or=30 years.

METHODS

Consecutive unselected samples from a group of 1871 women aged >or=30 years were screened with image-guided ThinPrep tests and HR-HPV tests during a 6-month period. Histologic follow-up was reviewed among women with positive HR-HPV tests.

RESULTS

A total of 85 (4.5%) women had positive HR-HPV tests. In 48 HR-HPV-positive women with follow-up biopsies, 41 (85%) were found to have histologic abnormalities. Thirty-three (1.9%) women with cytologically normal Papanicolaou (Pap) tests harbored HR-HPV, and a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ lesion was detected in 1 (16%) of 6 women with histologic follow-up. Conversely, 2 (28%) of 7 women with high-grade intraepithelial lesion on cytology tested negative for HR-HPV during the same period. A case of serous carcinoma with atypical glandular cells on cytology was also negative for HR-HPV, as expected.

CONCLUSIONS

In this low-risk population of women aged >or=30 years, histology-confirmed CIN2+ lesions were identified in women with negative cytology and positive HR-HPV tests, as well as in those with positive cytology and negative HR-HPV tests. Because both cytology and HPV testing alone missed significant lesions, cotesting with Pap and HR-HPV in women aged >or=30 years appears to be a reasonable option in a low-risk population.

Updated guidelines for papanicolaou tests, colposcopy, and human papillomavirus testing in adolescents

Worldwide, cervical cancer is a major health concern for women of all ages; however the epidemiology and biology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection differs in female adolescents and adults. In the United States, 50% of adolescent and young women acquire HPV within 3 years after initiating sexual intercourse, resulting in relatively high prevalence rates. Most infections, however, are transient and clear within several months. Consequently HPV infections detected in adolescents are likely to reflect benign disease, whereas infections detected in older women are likely to reflect persistent infections and a higher risk of advanced cervical intraepithelial lesions that can lead to invasive cervical cancer. This article reviews the most recently published guidelines for the prevention of cervical cancer through screening and management of abnormal cervical cytologic and histologic findings, which have been updated to reflect the differences in HPV infections and cervical abnormalities in female adolescents and adults.

Initial lessons learned in HPV vaccination

In the recent period following the approval of the first vaccine targeted against human papillomavirus, it is imperative that we re-evaluate the past, present, and future of cervical cancer prevention. It is clear that the subject of vaccinating young women against a sexually transmitted infection has incited a candid debate among all groups involved. Therefore, we must make the most appropriate and accurate information available to the public and medical communities. The development of vaccines targeted against oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types has made it possible to eliminate approximately 70% of all invasive cervical cancers in women worldwide. However, knowledge about HPV infection and cervical cancer, as well as the need to vaccinate against oncogenic HPV infection, is still lacking among women and physicians. This deficiency could be a key reason why some parents continue to have reservations about vaccinating their daughters. In order for HPV vaccination programs to be highly successful, multiple barriers must be overcome. Review of lessons learned to date has demonstrated that continued tailored and targeted educational and awareness initiatives are required for healthcare professionals, media, patients, and parents. This article also examines the impact of the HPV vaccination awareness campaign on media and public policy dynamics.

HPV and cervical cancer testing and prevention: knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes among Hispanic women

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease resulting from infection with high-risk types of sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Public knowledge of HPVs and their link to cervical cancer is limited. Participation in cervical cancer prevention programs, including Pap and HPV screening and HPV vaccine acceptance, is crucial for limiting the incidence of cervical cancer. Hispanic women suffer the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in the United States. In this study, we conducted community-based focus groups with Hispanic women to explore knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical cancer, HPV, HPV testing, and HPV vaccination. Study findings suggest a need to increase public health literacy in relation to HPV, the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and HPV primary and secondary prevention options. Health care providers should be prepared to share information with patients that supports and promotes informed decision making about HPV testing and vaccines and their complementary roles in cervical cancer screening and prevention.

Comparison of the Third Wave Invader human papillomavirus (HPV) assay and the digene HPV hybrid capture 2 assay for detection of high-risk HPV DNA

This study compared the clinical performance of the Digene Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assay to that of a prototype Third Wave Invader human papillomavirus (HPV) (IHPV) analyte-specific reagent-based assay for the detection of oncogenic or "high-risk" (HR) HPV DNA using liquid-based cytology specimens. In total, 821 ThinPrep vials were tested using both assays. In accordance with the type-specific probes contained within each test, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for the IHPV assay were 95.9%, 97.6%, 97.5%, and 96.1%, respectively, and those for the HC2 assay were 98.1%, 86.2%, 87.1%, and 97.9%. Overall, the sensitivity and NPV were comparable between the assays, but the IHPV assay demonstrated a better specificity and PPV, since the IHPV assay had fewer false-positive HR HPV results. The incorporation of an internal control to evaluate the cellularity of the test material is an important feature of the IHPV assay and should reduce the risk of false-negative results due to insufficient sample collection rather than the lack of HR HPV DNA. An additional benefit of the IHPV assay was the smaller sample volume required (1 ml versus 4 ml for the HC2 assay).

Objective screening for cervical cancer in developing nations: lessons from Nigeria

In developed countries, cervical cancer screening programs have been highly successful. In the United States a 70% decrease in the mortality of cervical cancer has occurred since the 1960's largely due to the Papanicolaou test. However, it is not clear how best to translate these advances to developing countries, where cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for woman. Cytology-based screening, followed by colposcopic detection is expensive and requires extensive laboratory infrastructure and trained personnel, which are often unavailable in low resource settings. Techniques such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and visual inspection with Lugol's Iodine (VILI) are less expensive and require minimal supplies and infrastructure; however there are concerns that these approaches do not have adequate specificity without extensive provider training and experience. Objective cervical cancer screening techniques which are easy to interpret, provide rapid results, and have both high sensitivity and specificity would be highly beneficial in developing countries. We have developed a multispectral digital colposcope (MDC) which is designed to rapidly image the cervix and is used with automated image analysis algorithms that provide objective delineation of neoplastic areas. In this paper we describe an effort to implement this device in Ibadan, Nigeria, to determine the feasibility of conducting clinical trials using the MDC as an experimental screening device. Our aim was to test the device in a location where it might be most beneficial and to collect data useful for developing new, low-cost, low-maintenance devices. Multiple obstacles limited the success of imaging using the MDC in Nigeria including an unstable supply of electricity and a lack of available spare parts and tools. We conclude that these obstacles must be overcome by robust and simple device designs in order to successfully test an imaging-based screening device in Nigeria or other developing countries.

Integration of human papillomavirus vaccination, cytology, and human papillomavirus testing

There is justifiable excitement about the recent introduction of prophylactic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 (HPV-16) and HPV-18. Preventing these infections theoretically could avert approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. In the U.S., numerous influential advocates are calling for universal vaccination of adolescent females. Given the promise of the vaccines, perhaps it is inevitable that vaccine introduction is proceeding before full consideration of how universal vaccination would affect existing, successful cervical cancer prevention programs. Determining the impact and cost effectiveness of the vaccines unavoidably will require time. Nevertheless, it is worth describing in broad terms for the readers of Cancer Cytopathology how successful, broad HPV vaccination of adolescent girls may affect cytology and HPV testing.

Association between high-risk human papillomavirus DNA load and precursor lesions of cervical cancer in Mexican women

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine the association between viral load of high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) using the Hybrid Capture II (HC II) system and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesion stage.

METHODS

A total of 182 consecutive women with confirmed diagnoses of CIN 1-3 and 182 healthy women with negative Pap were included. All subjects underwent structured interviews focused on socioeconomic and reproductive factors. HC II testing was used to detect human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA. Viral load was measured by light measurements expressed as relative lights unit (RLU) ratio (specimens/control). Log(10)RLU ratios were categorized for analysis into four groups: negative (</=0); low viral load (0.01-1.0), middle viral load (1.01-2.0), and high viral load (2.0-3.6). Frequencies and association measurement odds ratio (OR) adjusted by unconditional multinomial regression (UMR) were used in analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 75 of 80 (93.7%) patients with CIN 2-3, 82 of 101 (79.4%) with CIN 1, and 36 of 182 (19.8%) controls were positive for HPV DNA. The higher the viral load of HPV DNA infection observed, the higher the probability of being associated with stage of CIN (P <0.001). Association between low viral load HPV and CIN 1 was 16.8 (7.2-39) compared with the highest association observed with high viral load and CIN 2-3 (OR(a) = 365.8, 94.7-1412). Both control and cases in the oldest women presented the highest viral load.

CONCLUSIONS

We found high frequencies of HPV DNA in CIN 1 and in CIN 2-3 patients. A clear association between viral load of HPV DNA was determined by HC II assay and CIN stage.