From the Research
Italian guidelines for cervical cancer screening recommend that women aged 25-64 years undergo a Pap test every three years. The most recent and highest quality study on this topic is from 1, which states that national guidelines recommend personal invitation of women aged 25-64 years for a Pap-test every third year.
Key Points
- Screening typically begins at age 25 and continues until age 64, after which it may be discontinued if previous screenings were normal.
- Women who have had a total hysterectomy for benign conditions and have no history of cervical dysplasia can discontinue screening.
- The guidelines aim to detect precancerous lesions early when treatment is most effective, as cervical cancer develops slowly from persistent HPV infections.
Considerations
- The study from 2 highlights the importance of screening in immigrant women, who have a higher risk of cervical cancer due to lack of screening in their home countries.
- The study from 3 notes that overscreening is a common issue, with 74.3% of women being screened more than once every 3 years, and that improving Pap test compliance according to the proper timing is important for future reduction in cervical cancer mortality.
- The study from 4 provides evidence-based information on cervical cancer screening, but its recommendations are not specific to the Italian population.
- The study from 5 is not directly relevant to the Italian guidelines, as it discusses the interval between smear tests in a French department.
Recommendations
- Women aged 25-64 years should undergo a Pap test every three years.
- Women who test positive for high-risk HPV should have a follow-up Pap test to determine if colposcopy is needed.
- Screening should be discontinued in women who have had a total hysterectomy for benign conditions and have no history of cervical dysplasia.