When it comes to cervical cancer screening, most women receive a cytology-based Papanicolau (Pap) smear, where cells are scraped from the back of the cervix. However, human papillomavirus (HPV)-based testing may be a more accurate way of testing for cervical cancer, new study results suggest.1
Despite the widespread use of cervical cancer screening with a Pap smear, it was estimated that approximately 12,820 women in the United States would develop, and 4210 would die, from cervical cancer in 2017. As over 99% of all cervical cancers are associated with HPV, testing for the infection has been touted as an alternate option for cervical cancer screening. Previous research has indicated that HPV testing alone or combined with a Pap smear is linked to increased detection of precancerous lesions in the first screening round, followed by a subsequent reduction in precancerous lesions.
A total of 19,009 women were randomized to receive either HPV testing (intervention group) or a Pap smear (control group). Women with negative Pap smear results received a second Pap smear after 24 months. After 48 months, both groups received HPV screening and a Pap smear.
Consistent with prior studies, more cases of abnormal cells in the cervix, known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), grade 3 or worse (CIN3+), were detected in the intervention group compared with the control group in the first round of screening. By 48 months, there were significantly fewer cases of CIN2+ and CIN3+ detected among all age groups in the intervention group.
