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Cervical screening
Author(s) -
Duncan Ian D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the obstetrician and gynaecologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1744-4667
pISSN - 1467-2561
DOI - 10.1576/toag.6.2.93.26984
Subject(s) - cervical screening , cervical cancer , medicine , human papillomavirus , cervical cancer screening , gynecology , incidence (geometry) , cancer , optics , physics
Since the introduction in the late 1980s of UK cervical screening programmes based on computerised call and recall, mortality from cervical cancer has fallen by one‐third and incidence has dropped by two‐thirds. Current methods of screening have probably reached the limits of their usefulness. However, encouraging new approaches involving liquid‐based cytology and automation are in the advanced stages of development. Roles are also being researched for entirely different technologies, including human papillomavirus testing. It is anticipated that both sensitivity and specificity will improve.