Asian Pac J Cancer P
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Asian Pac J Cancer P · Jul 2003
Screening and management of precancerous lesions to prevent cervical cancer in low-resource settings.
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women in low-resource settings, but it is completely preventable by screening for and treating precancerous lesions. In this article, the current approaches to screening, confirmation, and treatment of precancerous lesions of the cervix are reviewed from the perspective of low-resource settings. Cervical cytology is compared to visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for screening women to detect precancerous lesions. ⋯ Cost-effectiveness modeling using South African data shows that use of a single lifetime VIA test and immediate cryotherapy saves costs compared to cytology or to no screening. VIA and cryotherapy are appropriate services for low-resource settings. Colposcopy and LEEP services should be available on a referral basis.