Immediate referral to colposcopy versus cytological surveillance for low-grade cervical cytological abnormalities in the absence of HPV test: A systematic review and a meta-analysis of the literature.
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the optimum management strategy for women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS/borderline) or low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (LSIL/mild dyskaryosis) cytological abnormalities at primary screening in the absence of HPV DNA test. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL and included randomised controlled trials comparing immediate colposcopy to cytological surveillance in women with ASCUS/LSIL. The outcomes of interest were occurrence of different histological grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and default rates during follow-up. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effect model and with inverse variance weighting. Interstudy heterogeneity was assessed using I2statistics. Six RCTs were included. Immediate colposcopy significantly increased detection of unimportant abnormalities as opposed to repeat cytology (koilocytosis: 32 vs. 21%, RR: 1.49, 95% CI = 1.17-1.90); CIN1: 21 vs. 8%, RR: 2.58, 95% CI = 1.69-3.94). Although immediate colposcopy detected CIN2, CIN2+, and CIN3+ earlier than cytology, the differences were no longer observed at 24 months (CIN3+: 10.3 vs.11.9%, RR: 1.02, 95% CI = 0.53-1.97), with significant interstudy heterogeneity (p < 0.001, I2= 93%). Default risk was significantly higher for repeat cytology (6 months: 6.3 vs. 13.3%, RR: 3.85, 95% CI = 1.27-11.63; 12 months: 6.3 vs. 14.8%, RR: 6.39, 95% CI = 1.24-32.95; 24 months: 0.9 vs. 16.1%, RR: 19.1, 95% CI = 9.02-40.4). Detection of CIN2+ for cytological surveillance over two years is similar to that of immediate colposcopy, although patients may default. Colposcopy may be first choice when good compliance is not assured, but may increase detection of insignificant lesions. This emphasizes the need for a reflex triage test to distinguish women who need diagnostic work-up from those who can return to routine recall.
Department of Surgery & Cancer, IRDB, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.|West London Gynaecological Cancer Center, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea-Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Maria
M
Kyrgiou
Department of Surgery & Cancer, IRDB, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
Ilkka
I
Kalliala
Department of Surgery & Cancer, IRDB, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
Anita
A
Mitra
Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Ka Ying Bonnie
KY
Ng
Department of Surgery & Cancer, IRDB, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
Olivia
O
Raglan
Department of Surgery & Cancer, IRDB, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.|West London Gynaecological Cancer Center, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea-Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Christina
C
Fotopoulou
Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Preston, United Kingdom.|Department of Biophysics, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
Pierre
P
Martin-Hirsch
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Evangelos
E
Paraskevaidis
Unit of Cancer Epidemiology/Belgian Cancer Centre, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
Marc
M
Arbyn
D065309:Atypical Squamous Cells of the Cervix / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D065310:Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014218:Triage; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057832:Watchful Waiting
ASCUS; borderline; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; cervix; colposcopy; cytology; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; mild dyskaryosis; randomized controlled trials; smear