II. Precautions
- Up to 15-20% of U.S. Cervical Cancer is due to adenocarcinoma (not associated with HPV infection in 25% of cases)
III. Protocol: ASCCP Calculated Risk Based Protocol
- Background
- Asymptomatic patients are stratified to testing based on risk of CIN 3 or worse (e.g. in situ, invasive Cervical Cancer)
- Specific risk based approach is preferred over less nuanced approach described below
- Risk Calculator Tools
- ASCCP Web Application (free with email registration)
- ASCCP Mobile Application
- Immediate CIN 3 or greater (CIN 3+) Risk < 4%
- Immediate CIN 3 or greater (CIN 3+) Risk >= 4%
- Immediate CIN 3+ Risk 4 to 24%
- Immediate CIN 3+ Risk 25 to 59%
- Expedited treatment or Colposcopy
- Immediate CIN 3+ Risk >60%
- Expedited treatment
- References
IV. Management: Extremely Low Risk Patients - Pap Smear not necessary
- Age under 21 years old
-
Hysterectomy for benign disease (see below)
- Recent studies suggest no further Pap Smears needed
- Age 65-70 or over (AAFP and USPTF recommend age 65)
V. Management: Average Risk Patients
- Protocol (varies by ACS, ACOG and USPHS)
- Initial screening age 21 to 30 years old
- Thin Prep Pap Smear cytology without HPV Testing once every 3 years for those under 30 years
- Do not test HPV with Pap Smear for those under age 25 years (high Prevalence)
- Those age 25-30 years may benefit from HPV Testing every 3 years
- Age 30 to 65 years old (with intact Uterus and Cervix)
- Cytology alone every 3 years (ACOG, ACP, USPTF, AAFP) OR
- Cotesting with Cytology and HPV Testing every 5 years (ACOG, ACP, USPTF, AAFP) OR
- Primary HPV Testing without cytology every 3 years (ASCCP) or 5 years (USPTF)
- If Genotype 16, 18 or 31 positive, then reflex to Colposcopy
- If Genotype 11 or 12 positive (or pooled, non-typed HPV positive), reflex to Cervical Cytology
- Obtain Colposcopy if abnormal Cervical Cytology (ASCUS or more)
- References
- Age over 65 years old
- No screening needed if adequate negative Pap Smear history
- Initial screening age 21 to 30 years old
- Criteria: Average Risk
- Cervical Cancer Screening starts at age 21 years regardless of sexual activity
- Cervical Cancer Screening is not needed in very low risk patients (see above)
- High risk patients require more specific screening (see below)
VI. Management: High Risk Patients
- Protocol
- Start screening immunosuppressed patients within one year of onset sexual activity
- Specific protocols exist for history Cervical Dysplasia or cancer, high risk HPV findings
- High risk criteria
- Significant Cervical Dysplasia (CIN2, CIN3, CIS) or Cervical Cancer history
- In Utero Diethylstilbestrol Exposure
- Immunocompromised patients
- HIV positive
- Other higher risk criteria that may prompt closer monitoring
- Sexual activity onset before age 20 years
- Screen and prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Patients with three or more lifetime sexual partners
- History of HPV or other Sexually Transmitted Disease
- Tobacco Abuse
- Sexual activity onset before age 20 years
VII. Management: After Hysterectomy with Cervix removed
- Total Hysterectomy without uterine or Cervical Cancer
- No further Cervical Cancer Screening
- Total Hysterectomy related to cancer history
- Continue screening for 20 years
- Obtain vaginal cytology every 3 years (or cotesting with HPV every 5 years)
VIII. Efficacy: Pap Smear Screening for Cervical Cancer
- USPSTF Strength of Recommendation: A
- Original slide testing had issue of False NegativePap Smears
- Importance
- Accounts for 30% of U.S. Cervical Cancer cases/years
- Accounts for 3,700 Cervical Cancer cases/year
- Causes
- Incomplete transformation zone sampling
- Poorly prepared slide (e.g. drying artifact)
- Cytotechnologist failure to detect abnormality
- Now limited to 100 slides per day for review
- Now 10% of "normal" slides re-screened
- Importance
- Adjunctive methods to decrease False Negative Rate
- General
- Adjuncts identify more LGSIL lesions, but may lead to over-testing
- Liquid-Based/Thin-Layer Preparation
- Improves cell sample and fixation
- Commercial Tests
- Thin Prep
- AutoCyte Prep (TriPath)
- Computer-Assisted Screening
- AutoPap: Scores slide on likeliood of abnormality
- AutoCyte: Presents cell images to cytopathologist
- HPV Testing
- Hybrid Capture II detects 13 high risk HPV types
- Not recommended outside age of 25 to 65 years old, or if Immunocompromised
- General
- References
IX. Resources
- ASCCP Risk Tools
X. References
- (2002) JAMA 287:2120 [PubMed]
- (2002) CA Cancer J Clin 52:342-62 [PubMed]
- (1995) Int J Gynaecol Obstet 49:210-11 [PubMed]
- Burness (2020) Am Fam Physician 102(1): 39-48 [PubMed]
- Rerucha (2018) Am Fam Physician 97(7): 441-8 [PubMed]
- Sawaya (2015) Ann Intern Med 162(12):851-9 +PMID: 25928075 [PubMed]
- Smith (2000) CA Cancer J Clin 50:34-49 [PubMed]
- Zoorob (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(6):1101-12 [PubMed]
- Woolf (1996) USPSTF Clinical Preventive Services, p.105
- (1997) ACOG Opinion, no. 185