ABSTRACT
Introduction: The recent development of affordable human papillomavirus (HPV) testing has prompted consideration of its use as adjuvant and primary screening for cervical dysplasia. This review focuses on the use of HPV testing in triage management of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) Pap smears.
Materials and Methods: A Medline search was performed for articles relevant to HPV testing as a triage strategy for ASC-US Paps. Key references from other papers that were not included in the search were also reviewed. Findings from the major randomised trials were then summarised. Results: Reflex HPV testing with hybrid capture is at least as effective and potentially cheaper than repeat cytology for evaluation of an ASC-US Pap. It also avoids 50% of colposcopies that would normally be performed if immediate colposcopy were done for all ASC-US Paps, while retaining excellent negative predictive value. Conclusion: Reflex HPV testing using liquid-based cytology is the preferred management strategy for triage of ASC-US Paps.Cervical cancer affects >400,000 women a year worldwide, and represents a significant health issue for women. In the United States (US) however, screening programmes have reduced the incidence to 8.3 cases per 100,000 women with only 14,000 cases and 5000 deaths annually.
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