One weakness of the study is that the data were collected from only one health care system and therefore may not be representative of all populations. Additionally, cotesting was performed on 2 separately collected specimens, which may have reduced HPV testing performance.
WHAT THIS EVIDENCE MEANS FOR PRACTICE
Excessive cervical cancer screening, including frequent cotesting, could have minimal cancer prevention benefits while increasing the harms of screening. These data confirm guidance showing HPV testing alone is an effective cervical cancer screening strategy.
-- Mark H. Einstein, MD, MS
Share your thoughts! Send your Letter to the Editor to rbarbieri@frontlinemedcom.com. Please include your name and the city and state in which you practice.