Press Release: HPV Testing Helps Identify Potential Cases of Cervical Cancer, Meta-Analysis Suggests

Extract

A test for infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) can more accurately predict whether a woman with an equivocal cervical abnormality found on a Pap smear is likely to develop invasive cancer compared with a repeat Pap smear, according to a meta-analysis in the February 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with HPV. Cervical abnormalities that are found during routine Pap smears are quite common, and many of these abnormalities disappear without ever causing problems. The most definitive way to determine if an abnormality has the potential to become cancerous is to perform a biopsy obtained by colposcopy, which is more invasive than a Pap smear. Because it would be expensive and stressful for patients to undergo invasive testing for all cervical abnormalities, it is important to look for factors that distinguish precancerous abnormalities from benign ones.