Cervical cancer screening based on human papilloma virus-DNA testing: a scientific heritage to microbiologists or to pathologists? An on-going dilemma

Abstract

Among the 28 current Members of the European Union, approximately 34,000 new cases of cervical cancer occur annually, with 13,000 related deaths. In Italy, about 2900 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually (crude incidence rate/100,000/year=9.4). As a direct consequence, about 1016 deaths related to cervical cancer are reported annually in Italy (crude mortality rate/100,000/year=3.3). Cervical cancer stands in the 15th rank among female cancers and is currently the 3rd most common cancer in women aged 15-44 years in Italy. [..]

Keywords

• Papilloma virus
• Pap test
• cervical cancer screening