HPV test detected more precancerous cells than conventional screen

The regular use of an HPV DNA screening test was more sensitive than conventional screening methods at detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-3 or greater, according to the results of a small study conducted in Finland.

The results, although from a small study, should justify the implementation of HPV screening in other regions, the researchers wrote.

The study was conducted to screen 58,076 women aged 30 to 60 years for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. It was conducted in Finland between 2003 and 2005.

Women were randomly assigned screening with primary HPV DNA test with triage upon positive result, or conventional cytological screening. Data were taken for all women invited to be screened and for all women who attended a screening.

Among women in the HPV arm who were invited to be screened there were 76 cases of CIN-3 or greater compared with 53 cases in the conventional screen arm. This equaled a relative rate of 1.44 for CIN3 in the HPV arm vs. the conventional arm.

This trend was also found when data were examined for women who attended a screen. Among women screened, there were 59 cases of CIN-3 or greater in the HPV arm vs. 33 in the conventional arm; a relative rate of 1.77.

There were only a small number of cases of cervical cancer among both invitees and attendees. The relative rate of cervical cancer in the HPV arm vs. the conventional arm was 0.75 in the women assigned HPV screen vs. 1.98 in women assigned conventional screen.

Anttila A. BMJ. 2010;doi:10.1136/bmj.c1804.