The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its statement on cervical cancer screening, recommending regular screening for all women aged 21-65 years to prevent this preventable disease. The new guidelines suggest that self-collection of cervical samples for HPV testing may expand screening options and make it more comfortable for women to get screened.
According to the task force, nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) and most occur in women who have not been regularly screened or appropriately treated. The updated recommendations also align with those of other organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
The USPSTF is recommending that all women aged 21-29 years undergo a Pap test every 3 years but do not need HPV testing in this age group. For women aged 30-65 years, HPV screening gives the best balance of benefits and harms in terms of preventing and finding cervical cancer.
Women under 21 years old, those who have had a total hysterectomy with removal of the cervix, and those aged over 65 years with regular screenings and normal results should not need screening. However, women over 65 who have not been screened regularly or have abnormal results in the past decade may continue to benefit from screening.
The USPSTF is also reviewing the magnitude of the incremental benefit and harms of screening for cervical cancer, particularly in HPV-vaccinated cohorts in US populations. With an estimated 13,820 new cases of cervical cancer and 4360 deaths expected in 2024, the task force emphasizes the importance of cervical cancer screening.
The new self-collection option for HPV testing may empower patients to take control of their own health and make it more convenient for women to get screened regularly. However, some experts caution that potential errors in self-collected samples should be a concern.
Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/uspstf-updates-recommendations-cervical-cancer-screening-2024a1000mv8