Liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus testing in cervical cancer screening

Noorani H Z, Brown A, Skidmore B, Stuart G C E
Record ID 32004000008
English, French
Authors' objectives:

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of liquid-based cytology (LBC) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing with that of Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in the detection of precancerous or malignant cervical lesions.

To evaluate the comparative cost and cost-effectiveness of LBC and HPV testing.

Authors' recommendations: Diagnostic Accuracy: Seventeen reports on 13 unique trials undertaken in nine countries met the selection criteria for comparing LBC and Pap smears; 23 unique trials met the criteria for comparing HPV testing and Pap smears. Interpretation of the results is hampered by the failure of some trials to meet several validity criteria: in particular, not all women received the reference test. Evidence (based primarily on results from split-sample trials) suggests that compared with Pap smears, the use of LBC reduces the proportion of unsatisfactory specimens and generates fewer false negatives for ordinary populations, but not for high-risk populations. HPV testing, alone or with cytology, is more sensitive but less specific than Pap smears.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: https://www.ccohta.ca/
Year Published: 2003
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Canada
MeSH Terms
  • Papillomavirus Infections
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
  • Vaginal Smears
Contact
Organisation Name: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment
Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553, Fax: +1 613 226 5392;
Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca
Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca
Copyright: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.