Cervical cancer remains an important public health issue. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued an update to its 2003 cervical cancer screening recommendations based on current evidence (Moyer VA, on behalf of the USPSTF. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:880-891). The key updated points in the new guidelines include:
In addition, the guidelines recommend against cervical cancer screening in older women (≥65 years) who have had adequate previous screening and are not otherwise at high risk for cervical cancer.
These guidelines apply to women who have a cervix, regardless of sexual history, but not to women with highgrade precancerous cervical lesions or cervical cancer, women who were exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol, or immunocompromised women.
The new guidelines are based on a systematic review of the relevant evidence, including the benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening, as well as a computerized decision analysis. The USPSTF points out that for policy and coverage decisions, considerations beyond clinical benefits and harms are applicable.