The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently made updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology(TM) for Cervical Cancer Screening that include a new section providing recommendations for women who have positive results for the HPV High Risk DNA test but negative cervical cytology screen/Pap smears.
Cervical cytology screening, either conventional Pap smears or liquid-based cytology, is the current method for early detection of cervical cancer. The FDA recently approved two new diagnostic HPV DNA tests. An updated version of the HPV High Risk (HR) DNA test determines whether any of the 14 oncogenic (i.e., high-risk) types of HPV are present, but it does not indicate which types are present. The HPV 16/18 DNA test determines whether HPV-16, HPV-18, or both are present. These types are responsible for an estimated 70 percent of cervical cancer.
The new section in the updated NCCN Guidelines provides guidance for women 30 years and older who receive a positive result using the HPV HR DNA test but have a negative cervical cytology/Pap smear. Their options may include either 1) have the more specific HPV 16/18 DNA test, or 2) proceed directly to colposcopy. A colposcopy, where the cervix is viewed through a long focal-length microscope, is the primary method for evaluating women with abnormal cervical cytologies.