Efficacy of screening for cervical cancer: a review.

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.68.2.125
• Publication Date: 2008-11-27T05:01:13Z
• Authors: D S Guzick
• Keywords: Cervical screening

Cytologic screening for cervical cancer currently enjoys wide acceptance, but there remains controversy in the literature concerning its efficacy prolonging life. On basis of a review, several conclusions are reached: 1) Cervical can identify women who at greater-than-average risk developing invasive by detecting asymptomatic lesions that would frequently progress to invasion if left untreated; 2) Therapy based on confirmed positive smears reduce incidence and mortality rates cancer, as shown declining many centers had constant or increasing before began, lower geographic areas occupational groups having less screening, among screened than unscreened women; 3) Attempts estimate amount life prolongation attributable have not yet yielded reliable figures, because difficulties with models data used. However, view available evidence, it is suggested incomplete should prevent vigorous continuation where already extensive, an escalation not.