title: Can papilloma virus testing be used to improve cervical cancer screening?
abstract: This report investigates different options for using human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in cervical cancer prevention. These options are evaluated by a stochastic model of the progression of pre-malignancy and its relationship to HPV infection. Three screening policies are compared: 2 based on cytological screening, with or without HPV testing, and 1 in which HPV testing is the primary screening method. A policy of HPV testing for women with mildly abnormal smears would have little effect on the overall incidence of invasive cancer when compared with a policy of repeat cytology, provided follow-up is efficient. Moreover, the potential value of HPV testing as a primary screening method is strongly dependent on the proportion of neoplasias that are HPV-negative. Important factors in assessing the future role of HPV testing would be cost-effectiveness and benefits from improved compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherlaw-Johnson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology