The IARC Perspective on Cervical Cancer Screening

This Special Report evaluates cervical cancer screening methods based on a comprehensive review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Working Group. The report highlights the effectiveness of conventional cytology (Pap test), liquid based cytology, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), and HPV nucleic acid testing in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. HPV testing is identified as the most effective method, offering higher sensitivity and allowing longer screening intervals. The report also discusses the balance of benefits and harms, the importance of triage strategies for HPV positive women, and considerations for implementation in diverse settings, including low-resource regions and populations with high HIV prevalence. The findings support global efforts to scale up HPV vaccination and screening to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.

This Special Report evaluates cervical cancer screening methods based on a comprehensive review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Working Group. The report highlights the effectiveness of conventional cytology (Pap test), liquid based cytology, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), and HPV nucleic acid testing in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. HPV testing is identified as the most effective method, offering higher sensitivity and allowing longer screening intervals. The report also discusses the balance of benefits and harms, the importance of triage strategies for HPV positive women, and considerations for implementation in diverse settings, including low-resource regions and populations with high HIV prevalence. The findings support global efforts to scale up HPV vaccination and screening to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.