Premalignant and malignant disease of the cervix

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a disease of poor and unscreened populations. Globally, it is the fourth most common cancer in women with over half a million new cases and over a quarter of a million deaths per year. About 85% of cases occur in less developed regions. Systematic high coverage and quality-assured population screening for precursors to cervical cancer is highly effective. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing will probably replace or complement cytology as the primary screening tool in many developed countries for women over 30 years of age. Because of the absolute relationship between oncogenic HPV and cervical cancer, its negative predictive value is very high. Management of cervical cancer is to determine the stage of the disease and to treat both the primary lesion and other extracervical disease. Cervical cancers spread by direct spread into the cervical stroma, parametrium, and beyond, and by lymphatic metastasis into parametrial, pelvic sidewall, and para-aortic nodes. Women should be fully staged using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics system and discussed in expert multidisciplinary forums with specialist surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and specialist nurses. Both surgery and radiotherapy are effective in early-stage disease, whereas locally advanced disease relies on treatment by radiation or chemoradiation. Surgery does provide the advantage of conservation of ovarian function. Women who have been treated for cervical precancer are much more likely to develop cervical cancer. Post-treatment HPV testing is the most sensitive test, has the best negative predictive values, and is the best test of cure.