Cervical Screening Adequacy in Older Women

Sample size: 287330 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Armaroli P, Gallo F, Bellomi A, Ciatto S, Consonni D, Davi D, Giorgi-Rossi P, Iossa A, Mancini E, Naldoni C, Polla E, Ronco G, Serafini M, Vergini V, Zanier L, Zappa M, Segnan N

Primary Institution: SCDO Epidemiologia dei Tumori, Centro Prevenzione Oncologica Regione Piemonte

Hypothesis

Do women ⩾50 years of age need as much screening as women <50 years after they have had negative screening results?

Conclusion

The study suggests that the benefits of cervical screening in women over 50 years of age with a history of negative tests are uncertain.

Supporting Evidence

The detection rate of CIN2+ is significantly lower in women over 50 years of age.
Women under 50 years with one previous negative test have a cumulative risk of CIN2+ that is at least eightfold higher than older women with four tests.
After four tests, at least three false-positive cases are diagnosed for every true positive in women over 50.

Takeaway

This study looked at whether older women need as many cervical cancer screenings as younger women, and it found that older women might not benefit as much from frequent screenings.