Benefits of Cervical Screening Noted
Pap smears are widely used across the United States as the optimal approach to screen patients for cervical cancer. New data about cervical cancer screening was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by a research team from Sweden.
The data assessed by the team is from the National Cervical Cancer Screening Registry. The group considered a cohort of 1,230 who were patients diagnosed with cervical cancer between the years 1999 and 2001. This group of patients, 6,124 in total, was compared to a group of controls matched by age who did not develop this malignancy.
Patients who underwent routine pap tests were 2.5 times less likely to develop cervical cancer than women who did not follow recommended screening. The women who did not undergo screening were also five times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer at an advanced stage.
Based on the findings, the team noted that the lack of participation in screening is the top risk factor for incident cervical cancer. Abnormal smears that are not further followed up are also an important risk factor for development of malignancy.
A key finding from the study is that routine participation in screening diminishes the risk of developing all types of cervical cancer, particularly among women between ages 23 and 30. One of the most significant advantages of employing this approach is a reduction in all types of diseases, aside from cervical cancer.
The team noted that screening, as indicated in numerous reports, reduces the burden of cervical cancer. Importantly, they noted that there is significant opportunity to reduce the incidence of disease by improving follow-up of patients after screening is complete.
Another key note from the report is the importance of completing audits of screening programs. This activity supports the identification of weaknesses and opportunities to improve screening activities. This information can then be translated to improve and restructure programs.
May 2, 2008 Related topics: Diagnostic, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Neonatology