title: A comparison of four screening methods for cervical neoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of 4 screening methods for cervical neoplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical samples from 450 women were evaluated for human papillomavirus DNA with a second-generation hybridization assay. Visual inspection, colposcopy, and liquid-based cytology were also performed for 273 of these women. The sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), Youden index, and kappa value of the different screening methods were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liquid-based cytology was superior in specificity (98.63%) and PPV (92.86%) to visual inspection and colposcopy, while human papillomavirus DNA testing was superior in sensitivity (88.89%) and NPV (97.10%) to visual inspection and colposcopy. The best concordance with histologic findings was achieved by using both liquid-based cytology and viral DNA hybridization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visual inspection and colposcopy should not be used when screening for early stage cervical lesions. The DNA hybridization assay is the best choice in primary screening, if available. Screening should begin at the age of 20 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: SuFang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: ShiXuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D003127:Colposcopy; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral