Pap Smear Effective in Detecting Cervical Cancer
Reported November 5, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Sexually active young women can be effectively assessed for a precursor to cervical cancer using the Pap smear rather than the more invasive internal exam, report researchers publishing in this week’s The Lancet. The finding should ease the minds of young women, who often find such exams unpleasant and anxiety-provoking. Investigators from the University of California, San Francisco, studied sexually active adolescents between the ages of 13 and 22, finding many were already infected with the human pappiloma virus (HPV), which is known to play a role in cervical cancer. However, most of those who develop low-grade lesions as a result suffered no long-term harm. In 90 percent of the cases, the lesions resolved on their own after three years. About 60 percent had resolved after just one year. In all cases, doctors were able to follow the progress of the lesions using Pap smears. The addition of the more invasive internal exam of the vagina and cervix (colposcopy) did not improve their ability to keep up with the condition. The authors believe the relatively benign nature of these lesions and the ease with which it can be monitored by the less invasive Pap smear test suggests no need to subject these young women to regular internal exams. Other physicians writing in an accompanying editorial agree, noting the study shows these lesions are, for the most part common and essentially meaningless. They write, “We see absolutely no role for colposcopy in adolescents as part of routine management.”
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2004;364:1678-1682, 1642-1644
