Cervicography. Does it improve cervical cancer screening?

OBJECTIVE

To compare the reliability of cytology with that of cervicography and with the use of both tests when screening for neoplasia of the cervix and to analyze the causes of false positive and false negative results with both methods.

STUDY DESIGN

The results of cytology and cervicography in 1,709 patients (1,447 seen for routine screening, 82 for follow-up after treatment for cervical neoplasia and 180 referred because of cytologic anomalies) were correlated with colpohistologic findings.

RESULTS

Cervicography entailed more defective examinations than did cytology (8.9% vs. 0.2%, P < .0001). It was less sensitive (51% vs. 59%, P = .320) and less specific (96% vs. 98%, P = .004). Whatever the clinical criteria (patient's age, parity, pregnancy or history of cervical treatment), the rate of false positives with cervicography was always higher than with cytology, as was the rate of false negatives, except in pregnant women.

CONCLUSION

Cervicography does not seem to offer a worthwhile alternative to cytology for cervical screening.