Cervical cancer screening : an update

Abstract

In many countries cervical cancer is the commonest gynaecological cancer. In Malta and in the United States, it is the third most common gynaecological cancer. Countries which introduced organised cervical screening programmes saw a dramatic decrease in incidence and mortality from this cancer.1 In Malta however, its incidence and mortality has remained relatively constant in the last few decades, in keeping with the fact that we lack a national organised call and re-call cervical screening programme.2 Our cervical screening is largely opportunistic and most of it is carried out in the private sector. Although incidence and mortality has not decreased, our present imperfect screening must however have prevented a significant rise in incidence and mortality, because the detection (and treatment) of premalignant cervical lesions has risen over recent decades, in keeping with increased sexual promiscuity.