Early detection of cervical cancer

Prevention of cervical cancer has to be improved in spite of the significant reduction in incidence and mortality over the last decades. The efficacy of cytological screening can be increased considerably by molecular biological detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) but not by liquid-based cytology. Colposcopy is the best method to evaluate women with a history of abnormal Papanicolaou smears or detection of high risk HPV. If high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is diagnosed by colposcopy-directed biopsy, excisional treatment is mandatory. To estimate the progression potential of HPV infections or cervical precancers, varions HPV-associated and HPV-independent markers are available but their value for clinical routine must still be proved.