What is the real value of Screening for Cervical Cancer -The Smear Test?

Many patients emailed us their questions after reading Adeola Olaitan's article on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Cancer. Here are just a few together with Adeola's responses.

Q. I hear there are differences in the way that samples are taken and this can affect whether or not you get a good result, is this still an issue or have specimen collection and lab procedures improved?

A.There is a move to liquid based cytologyThe preparation of cells for a cervical screening test to improve the accuracy of the test. (LBC) which, instead of smearing the collected cells on a glass slide, suspends them in a solution which is then spun down. This reduces the number of inadequate smears (for example, the introduction of LBC at the pilot sites reduced the reported rate of inadequate smears from 9 per cent to 1-2 per cent.)

The conversion to LBC was completed in October 2008. Women now benefit from a lower inadequate rate of cervical samples, from 4.7% in 2006-07. The rate of inadequate samples has reduced from 9.1% in 1997 to 4.7% in 2007.

Of the GP and NHS Community Clinic samples examined in 2006-07 for women aged between 25 and 64, 4.7% were inadequate specimens for which no result could be determined, a much lower proportion than in any of the previous years. ‘Persistent inadequate smears’ is an indication for the GP to refer to a colposcopyClose examination of the cervix of the uterus using a magnifying instrument with attached light source, known as a colposcope. clinic where smears can be taken under direct vision.

Q. What is the probability of a normal, average aged, non-symptomatic patient getting a positive smear test result?

A. In 2007 1.2% of women aged 25-64 screened had high grade abnormalities, while 5.2% had low grade abnormalities. Of the 3.1 million women aged 25- 64, screened who had a result in 2006-07, 93.5% were negative, 3.3% showed borderline changes, 1.9% showed mild dyskaryosisAbnormal appearance of a cell, where the nucleus looks irregular but the rest of the cell looks fairly normal., 0.6% showed moderate dyskaryosis, 0.6% showed severe dyskaryosis and 0.1% showed invasive or glandular neoplasiaabnormal proliferation of cells,. Within the target age range the percentage of results which are severe or worse shows a distinct pattern by age, being highest at 1.3% for women

aged 25-29, falling to 0.2% for women aged 60-64

Q. What is the correlation between CINAn abbreviation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, abnormal changes in the cervix of the uterus that may resolve spontaneously, or may progress to cervical cancer. stage and actual cancer? Or, what proportion of cells return to normal depending on CIN stage?

A. Low grade abnormalities have about a 40% chance of returning to normal without treatment, especially if the woman is HPVAn abbreviation for human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted virus that can cause genital warts and may also have a role in the development of various cancers. negative and a non-smoker. High grade abnormalities have about a 30% chance of progressing to cancer if left untreated over 20years.

Q. If in most cases HPV is naturally dealt with by your own immunity, what proportion of HPV positives go on to get cancer?

A. Risk of CIN is related to HPV persistence i.e. those who remain positive for the virusA microbe that is only able to multiply within living cells. for >2years. As long as these women remain within the screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to system, the risk of cancer is low.

Q. You mention initial government reluctance in providing vaccinationThe means of producing immunity by stimulating the formation of antibodies.. How much cancer does vaccination actually prevent?

A. Cervirix (the bivalent vaccine) has been introduced with good coverage. HPV vaccination was introduced into the national immunisation programme in September 2008, for girls aged 12-13 across the UK. Then, starting in autumn 2009, a two year catch up campaign will vaccinate all girls up to 18 years of age. This catch up campaign will offer to vaccinate:

• Girls aged between 16 and 18 from autumn 2009
• Girls aged between 15 and 17 from autumn 2010

By the end of the catch up campaign, all girls under 18 will have been offered the HPV vaccine.

When the HPV vaccination programme began in 2008, women over the age of 18 were not vaccinated as it was not cost effective in preventing cervical cancer. This is because as soon as a woman becomes sexually active, she is at risk of infectionInvasion by organisms that may be harmful, for example bacteria or parasites. with the virus. It will be many years before the vaccination programme has an effect upon cervical cancer incidenceThe number of new episodes of a condition arising in a certain group of people over a specified period of time. so women are advised to continue accepting their invitations for cervical screening.

If you still have questions see our Cervical Cancer FAQs or contact Miss Adeola Olaitan if you'd like to make a private appointment.