Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2004 Sep;148(36):1781-5.

No major difference between population screening for cervical carcinoma at the present screening interval of 5 years and the former interval of 3 years

Vinkesteijn AS,Siemens FC,Boon ME,Kuypers JC,Kok LP.

Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, afd. Gynaecologie en Obstetrie, Delft.

Objectives:

To assess the effect of extending the screening interval from 3 to 5 years on the detection of premalignant changes and invasive cervical carcinoma in the restructured population screening programme.

Design:

Retrospective follow-up study.

Method:

The results were collected of the 1st round (1996-2000; 277, 377 women) and a part of the 2nd round (2001; 49,622 women; screening interval: 5 years) of the screening programme in Region West, the Netherlands. Histoscores for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 and squamous cell carcinoma (n/100 women investigated) and the hit count (sum of the histoscores for CIN 3, adenocarcinoma in situ and (micro)invasive cervical carcinoma) were calculated. Data of women with adenocarcinoma in situ and endocervical (adeno)carcinoma were recorded separately. The results of the 1st and 2nd round of the current screening programme (commenced in 1996) were compared with those of the historical screening programme that commenced in 1976 (screening interval: 3 years).

Results:

From the 1st to the 2nd round of the historical screening programme that commenced in 1976, the histoscores for CIN 3 (3.33, 1.88) and squamous cell carcinoma (0.53, 0.19) and the hit count (3.92, 2.15) all diminished significantly. The current restructured programme, which commenced in 1996, showed low starting values for all three parameters, comparable to those in the 2nd round of the 1976 programme; a further reduction (0.16, 0.08; p< 0.01) was seen only in the histoscore for squamous cell carcinoma. In both rounds of both programmes, the histoscores for adenocarcinoma in situ (0.02, 0.02, 0.05, 0.04, respectively) and endocervical adenocarcinoma (0.04, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04) remained stable.

Conclusion:

In the current cervical carcinoma screening programme, with a screening interval of 5 years, the hit count of serious abnormalities remained constant while the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma decreased; this is in contrast to the historical screening programme (commenced in 1976), when both the hit count and the histoscore for CIN 3 diminished significantly. There were indications that cervical screening has no beneficial effect on the prevention of cervical adenocarcinoma.

Women's Health

Please click on the required question.

Women's Health

Thank you for choosing to visit us.


This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, retired Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.

- Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.

The aim of this web site is to provide a general guide and it is not intended as a substitute for a consultation with an appropriate specialist in respect of individual care and treatment.

David Viniker retired from active clinical practice in 2012.
In 1999, he setup this website - www.2womenshealth.com - to provide detailed
information many of his patients requested. The website attracts thousands of visitors every day from around the world.
Website optimisation (SEO) has became more than an active hobby. If you would like advice on your website, please visit his website Keyword SEO PRO or email him on david@page1-on-google.com.
David Viniker Linkedin Profile