Cervical screening undoubtedly saves lives. In countries where cervical screening is routine, death rates from cervical cancer have fallen dramatically. Practice varies from country to country, but a woman should generally have cervical screening till she is 60.

In the future, testing for human papilloma virus (HPV, the cause of the majority of cervical cancer cases) and vaccination against it could even lead to the elimination of cervical cancer. But, for now, methods of cervical screening are in the spotlight. The traditional cervical screening method is the Pap (Papanicolaou) smear, where a sample of cells from the cervix is smeared onto a slide. Examination of the smear under the microscope detects abnormal cells. The problem with the Pap smear is that it misses some cancers and detects some abnormalities that are not cancer, but must be followed up. The hope has been to get a more sensitive and specific approach to cervical screening.

Liquid based cytology is a newer method of cervical screening where cells are collected and rinsed into a container with fluid. The cells are suspended in fluid rather than being smeared. A report from researchers at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands, now concludes there is little difference between liquid based cytology and Pap smears when it comes to detection rates of all grades of cervical cancer. Therefore, investment in this form of cervical screening may not be worthwhile. Meanwhile, women up to age 60 should be sure to attend for their cervical smear when it is due. Cervical cancer is increasingly uncommon, but it has not yet disappeared.

Source

Siebers AG et al Comparison of liquid-based cytology with conventional cytology for detection of cervical cancer precursors: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association October 28 2009; 302:1727-1764