Comments on: Will the Pap smear soon be replaced by a DNA test to detect cervical cancer? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/will-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-dna.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jackie Swensonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/will-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-dna.html#comment-175284 Jackie Swenson Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/will-the-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-a-dna-test-to-detect-cervical-cancer.html#comment-175284 Am J Public Health. 2011 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print] Cervical Cancer Prevention in the 21st Century: Cost Is Not the Only Issue. Maine D, Hurlburt S, Greeson D. Source1 `Boston University School of Public Health. AbstractThe wide publicity related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has led to a sense that HPV vaccine programs are inevitable in both developed and developing countries, whereas 2 existing methods of screening-visual inspection with ascetic acid (VIA) and DNA testing-have received much less attention. These screening methods detect cervical lesions better than does the Papanicolaou test and allow immediate treatment, minimizing loss to follow up. These advantages may outweigh the strengths of HPV vaccines. Priority should be given to improving screening coverage with VIA and DNA tests, focusing on women older than 30 years and underserved populations in all countries. This approach will save the lives of millions of women who have already been exposed to HPV and will develop cervical cancer during the next 20 years. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 21, 2011: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300204). Am J Public Health. 2011 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print]
Cervical Cancer Prevention in the 21st Century: Cost Is Not the Only Issue.
Maine D, Hurlburt S, Greeson D.
Source1 `Boston University School of Public Health.
AbstractThe wide publicity related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has led to a sense that HPV vaccine programs are inevitable in both developed and developing countries, whereas 2 existing methods of screening-visual inspection with ascetic acid (VIA) and DNA testing-have received much less attention. These screening methods detect cervical lesions better than does the Papanicolaou test and allow immediate treatment, minimizing loss to follow up. These advantages may outweigh the strengths of HPV vaccines. Priority should be given to improving screening coverage with VIA and DNA tests, focusing on women older than 30 years and underserved populations in all countries. This approach will save the lives of millions of women who have already been exposed to HPV and will develop cervical cancer during the next 20 years. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 21, 2011: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300204).

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/will-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-dna.html#comment-90855 Anonymous Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:13:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/will-the-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-a-dna-test-to-detect-cervical-cancer.html#comment-90855 What if a woman had a cervical conization following colposcopy and biopsy? Does she gain any benefit from this test, considering she likely has HPV, which may or may not resolve? Aren't ThinPrep Pap tests machine-read and flagged for human follow-up if something appears awry? Enquiring women need to know... What if a woman had a cervical conization following colposcopy and biopsy? Does she gain any benefit from this test, considering she likely has HPV, which may or may not resolve? Aren’t ThinPrep Pap tests machine-read and flagged for human follow-up if something appears awry? Enquiring women need to know…

]]> By: Xanontlhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/will-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-dna.html#comment-90842 Xanontl Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:33:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/will-the-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-a-dna-test-to-detect-cervical-cancer.html#comment-90842 Kevin, thanks for pointing to this important study. Unfortunately, you failed to mention that it was specific to resource poor settings that are unable to do pap smears. <br /><br />There are other studies from Canada and Sweden that point to the effectiveness of the HPV DNA test, but not as a replacement for pap tests entirely. It's also more helpful for women over 30. Women under 30 often clear HPV infection, and a Pap is a more reliable assessment of cervical health. <br /><br />For more info, see this editorial in the NEJM from 2007: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.libproxy2.umdnj.edu/pubmed/17942878?dopt=Abstract Kevin, thanks for pointing to this important study. Unfortunately, you failed to mention that it was specific to resource poor settings that are unable to do pap smears.

There are other studies from Canada and Sweden that point to the effectiveness of the HPV DNA test, but not as a replacement for pap tests entirely. It’s also more helpful for women over 30. Women under 30 often clear HPV infection, and a Pap is a more reliable assessment of cervical health.

For more info, see this editorial in the NEJM from 2007: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.libproxy2.umdnj.edu/pubmed/17942878?dopt=Abstract

]]> By: Kipperhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/will-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-dna.html#comment-90840 Kipper Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:14:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/will-the-pap-smear-soon-be-replaced-by-a-dna-test-to-detect-cervical-cancer.html#comment-90840 Women's magazines have been encouraging women to ask for the DNA Pap for some time now (although I think initially it was a more expensive test). <br /><br />I noticed Kaiser has adopted the 3-year interval for women in my age bracket. I wonder if that is really appropriate for women who may be accumulating new HPV exposures in the interim. Women’s magazines have been encouraging women to ask for the DNA Pap for some time now (although I think initially it was a more expensive test).

I noticed Kaiser has adopted the 3-year interval for women in my age bracket. I wonder if that is really appropriate for women who may be accumulating new HPV exposures in the interim.

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