New CDC Study Finds Many Doctors Screen for Cervical Cancer Too Often // CDC - Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

New CDC Study Finds Many Doctors Screen for Cervical Cancer Too Often

Many doctors screen low-risk women for cervical cancer too often, according to a new study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with other federal institutions.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20548011

Guidelines recommend screening low-risk women for cervical cancer using a Pap test every three years after age 30, but most doctors surveyed say they recommend more frequent tests, according to a report in the June 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) in addition to the Pap test does not make doctors more likely to screen every three years as recommended.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has long recommended screening with Pap tests only every three years instead of every year. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) used to recommend that women have three annual normal Pap tests before switching to less frequent screening. But better understanding of the link between HPV infection and cervical cancer has led them to recommend another screening option, such as HPV and Pap testing in women 30 years of age and older. In this instance, longer screening intervals for women who have a normal Pap test and a negative HPV test (without prior normal Pap tests) are recommended.

The study found that yearly Pap tests, especially when paired with yearly HPV tests, in low-risk women increase health care costs while providing little benefit. Overuse of screening also can lead to unnecessary follow-up tests that have health risks, and cause stress for patients.


Citation: Saraiya M, Berkowitz Z, Yabroff KR, Wideroff L, Kobrin S, Benard V. Cervical cancer screening with both human papillomavirus and Papanicolaou testing vs. Papanicolaou testing alone: what screening intervals are physicians recommending? Archives of Internal Medicine 2010;170[11]:977–986. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20548011


Experts Give Doctors the Latest Information about Cervical Cancer Screening in New Podcasts

CDC has released a series of podcasts that provide health care professionals with information about HPV, and how HPV testing has impacted cervical cancer screening guidelines and recommendations. Updated information on the natural history of HPV, screening, management, case studies, and caring for the underserved is provided through in-depth interviews with leading national experts in cervical cancer prevention. The nine podcasts can be downloaded easily to listen to at your convenience, and share with your colleagues and friends.

- Natural History of HPV and Cervical Cancer
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1933267

- Costs Associated with Cervical Cancer Screening
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637261

- Management of Cervical Cytology with HPV Test
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637265

- Cervical Cancer Screening with HPV Test
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637260

- HPV Testing Among Providers
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637263

- ACOG Recommendations and Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening and Management*
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637212

- Case Studies – Cervical Cancer
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637213

- Cervical Cancer Screening in Underserved Populations
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637259

Future Directions – Cervical Cancer
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=1637262

*Please note: The ACOG guidelines were updated after this podcast was created.


New Brochure Explains HPV and Pap Tests
CDC has developed a new brochure that explains in simple language—
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/pdf/hpv_brochure_ENG_2010.pdf

¨ What cervical cancer and HPV are.
¨ What the Pap and HPV tests look for.
¨ What the test results mean, and when women with different test results should be tested again.
¨ How to get free or low-cost cervical cancer screening.

The main message of the brochure, titled "Cervical cancer screening with the HPV test and the Pap test in women ages 30 and older: When to get tested, and how to make sense of your test results," is: if your Pap test is normal and your HPV test is negative, you can wait three years before being tested again for cervical cancer.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/pdf/hpv_brochure_ENG_2010.pdf


Related Studies
Two recent CDC studies reviewed patient and provider materials about HPV testing as part of cervical cancer screening:

. Roland KB, Larkins TL, Benard VB, Berkowitz Z, Saraiya M. Content analysis of continuing medical education for cervical cancer screening. Journal of Women's Health 2010;19(4):651–657.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20350199

.. Roland KB, Benard VB, Saraiya M, Hawkins N, Brandt H, Freidman A. Assessing cervical cancer screening guidelines in patient education materials. Journal of Women's Health 2009;18(1):5–12.
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jwh.2008.1211

open here please to see the guidelines:
CDC - Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines